Explosions at Illegal Fireworks Factory Flatten Abandoned Building

Explosions rocked an abandoned house used as an illegally operated fireworks factory Sunday in Guilin City, Guangxi, killing four and sending eight to the hospital for severe burns.

The 860-square-feet brick house had to be razed and the specific cause of the accident is still under investigation.

China News Service reported that police received a call at 7:46 a.m. reporting an explosion in Hepin Village. Police later determined that the owner, Mo Yuanzhi, had been operating an unauthorized facility for making fireworks.

Days earlier on Sept. 29, explosions shook another firecracker and fireworks factory in Yulin City, Guangxi, which killed three hurt two.

Accidents are common at Chinese fireworks plants, especially after safety concerns cause the facilities to lose their licenses.

One such incident occurred in August near the northeastern city of Harbin which left 19 people dead and more than 150 injured. A worker at a nearby furniture factory thought that the vibrations from the explosion was an earthquake since things were knocked off shelves. The explosion was felt from 2 miles away.