Death toll increased to 36 people in the firecracker storehouse explosion Sunday afternoon in central China's Henan Province, said sources with the local government.

 

Investigation showed that at 14:15 Sunday, an explosion took place at the storehouse of a closed firecracker company named Lilin, in Linqi Town, Linzhou City of Henan, causing collapse of a neighboring temple nearby and killing 16 people on the spot.

 

Another 20 people were found died during cleaning up of the locale or the treatment. Currently 36 were killed and 48 were injured, with 8 people seriously injured.

 

According to the local work safety department, the company had been closed due to illegal operation, but there were still firecrackers in the storehouse.

 

Sunday was right the first day of Chinese Lunar New Year, and many people went to the temple to burn joss sticks. Someone accidentally ignited the firecrackers in the storehouse and caused the explosion while burning joss sticks and igniting bangers. Waves of the explosion pushed down the temple, and some people were buried beneath the debris, according to local witness.

 

Rescue work was initiated soon after the incident occurred. Investigation is still underway, and the public has basically calmed down, said the local government.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2006)