The directive came on Tuesday, a day after the blast struck the Huasheng fireworks plant in Liuyang, a city of about 1.5 million people in Hunan province.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered an investigation after a powerful explosion tore through a fireworks factory in central China and nearby areas, killing at least 26 people and injuring 61 others.
The directive came on Tuesday, a day after the blast struck the Huasheng fireworks plant in Liuyang, a city of about 1.5 million people in Hunan province.
Xi said those responsible “must be held accountable” and called for full-scale efforts to locate anyone still missing, according to state news agency Xinhua.
The explosion occurred at around 4:40 p.m. local time (08:40 GMT) on Monday.
Authorities deployed 482 emergency responders to the scene and evacuated surrounding areas due to the risk of further explosions from the factory’s warehouses, state media reported.
The full extent of the damage remains unclear as rescue operations continued into Tuesday, and the number of missing people has not yet been confirmed.
Footage shared by People’s Daily on social media showed widespread devastation, with multiple buildings damaged or destroyed across several city blocks.
The report added that public security officials have taken action against the person in charge of the company, suggesting the individual may have been detained.
Xi and Premier Li Qiang have also called for a comprehensive review of workplace safety standards following the disaster.
“Authorities across all regions and departments must learn serious lessons from this accident and strengthen responsibility for workplace safety,” Xi said.
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