2 dead, 9 injured in fireworks plant blast

Two people died and nine others were injured in a blast at a fireworks plant in central China's Hunan Province, authorities said Monday.

The blast occurred around 3 p.m. Sunday at a workshop of the Huangjia Fireworks Plant in Baitutan Township, Liling City, said a spokesman with the city government.

Two people died at the scene. Of the nine injured people receiving treatment at the hospital, one was in serious condition, said the spokesman.

The manager of the plant has been detained, and police are investigating the case.

With hundreds of fireworks plants and companies, Liling City is a major Chinese fireworks production base.