An explosion at a fireworks factory in north-eastern China has left 13 people dead and another 148 injured, state media said Monday, in the latest deadly industrial accident to strike the country. The blast happened at 9:45 am (0145 GMT) at a factory near Yichun city in Heilongjiang province, shattering the windows of buildings located one kilometre (1,100 yards) away, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Shockwaves from the explosion were felt five kilometres away, it said. More than 2,000 residents were evacuated as over 1,700 fire-fighters were sent to extinguish the blaze caused by the blast, the report said. Hundreds of rescuers were sent to the factory to search for survivors, Xinhua said. It is not known how many workers were inside the factory at the time of the accident, it said.