Fire department stresses fireworks safety

China's firefighting body has warned people to be careful setting off fireworks during Thursday's Lantern Festival.

The festival marks the end of the two-week lunar new year celebrations and is traditionally celebrated by hanging lanterns and lighting fireworks.

The public are urged to set off fireworks in safe designated areas.

The fire department under the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) called for firefighting equipment to be checked and for safety inspections to be carried out in gathering spaces ahead of events to mark the festival.

Escape routes and emergency exits should be kept unobstructed, it said.

According to an early figures provided by the MPS, 44 people were killed in 15,742 fires that broke out around the country during the week-long Spring Festival holiday last month.