The provincial government of Hubei Province, in central China, has issued an emergency circular ordering a crackdown on all kinds of illegal manufacturers and dealers, after 21 people were killed in two fireworks explosions in the provincial capital, Wuhan, Tuesday.
Leading officials will be held responsible and severely punished according to law, if such explosions occur in their areas or units, the order says.
Meanwhile, the city government of Wuhan has stepped up inspections of quarries, small mines, gas stations and other places that are vulnerable to fires and explosions.
In related developments, provincial and municipal government leaders have ordered local hospitals and relevant departments to take care of the wounded and investigate the causes of the two explosions.
Investigation
Police officers are investigating two fireworks explosions, which happened Tuesday, killing 21 people in central China's Hubei Province.
Three people were killed in a fireworks explosion at an illegal private fireworks plant in Huangpi District in Wuhan City during the day on Tuesday.
Sources said that some local government officials and police raided a local village in Liji Town, Huangpi, at night to confiscate fireworks from farmer-turned vendors, when a second explosion happened in the house of Liu Xiaowang, a dealer who had hid some fireworks, killing 17 people and injuring seven others.
The police are pursuing Liu, the suspect, who went into hiding after the explosion.
Meanwhile, police have confiscated and destroyed fireworks from Liu's neighbors.
Governmental officials delivered condolences to the families of the dead and emergency medical rescue work is underway.
(People's Daily09/21/2001)
