Fireworks factory blast kills 25

An explosion at a fireworks factory in the northern province of Shaanxi left 25 dead and nine injured, most of them women, state media reported. The owner of the factory went into hiding after the accident and has not been seen since, Xinhua reported. Meanwhile, in a separate explosion another man was killed in central Anhui province while reportedly making fireworks in his home. The accidents come at a peak time of year for the poorly regulated Chinese fireworks industry with the run-up to the Lunar New Year celebrations. Four years ago, more than 40 people died and dozens were injured when an explosion tore through a school in rural Jiangxi province where pupils as young as eight were employed making fireworks.