Over a dozen people were killed in an explosion at a fireworks shop at Xiangyang city in China on Wednesday. (Image X @shanghaidaily)
Beijing: Tragic news has emerged from China. Twelve people have died in an explosion at a fireworks shop in Xiangyang City, Hubei Province. The incident occurred during Lunar New Year celebrations and is the second such explosion in the country in a few days. According to Xinhua News Agency, the explosion occurred at around 2 p.m. local time on Wednesday at a fireworks shop in Zhengjie Town, Xiangyang City, Hubei Province.
According to reports, the explosion affected an area of approximately 50 square meters and caused a fire. Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene, and the fire was extinguished around 3:30 p.m. local time. Twelve bodies were found at the scene. The exact cause of the explosion is not yet clear and an investigation is ongoing.
According to reports, a similar fire broke out in a shop in eastern Jiangsu province on Sunday. Eight people died in the incident, while two others were injured. The injured were admitted to a local hospital and treated. Following this incident, the Chinese government issued a warning on Tuesday regarding the dangers of firecrackers, urging people to be vigilant and cautious.
People in China are celebrating the Lunar New Year on Tuesday with prayers, fireworks, and celebrations. These activities mark the arrival of the Year of the Horse, one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, following the Year of the Snake. The Lunar New Year is the most important annual festival in China and some other East Asian countries, and is also celebrated outside the region.
To celebrate this New Year, crowds thronged temples in Hong Kong at midnight. The smoke of incense permeated a Hong Kong temple, where people queue up every year at midnight to make wishes for the New Year. In the Southeast Asian country of Vietnam, this festival is called "Tet." Many cities there witnessed fireworks and musical performances.
As the fireworks began, bridges and skyscrapers lit up, and people danced to the beats of pop music. On Monday, two weeks of events began at various locations in the Russian capital, with people sampling Chinese delicacies from shops and strolling through snow-covered streets decorated with lanterns and dragons. Meanwhile, in Taipei, Taiwan, a huge crowd gathered at the Bao'an Temple on Tuesday morning and the bell there rang 108 times, which is considered an auspicious number.
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