An explosion at a fireworks store in China killed 12 people on Wednesday.
This is within the framework of the second day of the Lunar New Year festivities, as reported by the state broadcaster CCTV.
Using pyrotechnic devices is very common in China during holidays, especially the Lunar New Year, which fell on Tuesday.
Several major cities, including Beijing, have banned the practice in recent years, partly due to concerns about pollution, but it remains popular in towns and rural areas.
“At around 2:00 p.m. (06:00 GMT) on February 18, a fire and explosion occurred at a fireworks and firecracker shop in Zhengji village in Hubei province, CCTV reported, citing local authorities.
The fire has already claimed 12 lives, according to the same source.
This is the second tragedy of this type in just a few days, after the one that occurred on Sunday in Jiangsu province, where eight people died and two were injured.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has instructed fireworks companies across the country to strengthen supervision of their operations and conduct a comprehensive risk assessment.
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