A fireworks plant explosion on Monday in central China's Hunan Province has left 26 people dead and 61 others injured, authorities said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Chen Bozhang, mayor of Changsha, expressed condolences to the victims and apologized to their families, affected residents and society as a whole.

"We are deeply grieved and filled with remorse," he said.

Before the press conference, attendees observed a moment of silence for the victims.

The explosion occurred around 4:43 p.m. on Monday at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company plant in Liuyang, a county-level city under Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province.

So far, the rescue is almost complete, and environmental indicators from real-time air and water monitoring have been normal.

The person in charge of the company has been detained by police, and the cause of the accident is being investigated.

All fireworks production enterprises in Liuyang have halted production and are undergoing rectification, according to the press conference.

Liuyang is a renowned fireworks manufacturing hub in China.

All-out rescue efforts

After the explosion, the Changsha municipal government set up an emergency response headquarters and mobilized more than 1,500 personnel from firefighting, emergency management, public security, and health departments for rescue operations, on-site disposal, and medical treatment.

China Media Group (CMG) reporters at the scene observed that 20 rescue stations were set up, with rescuers adopting a coordinated human-machine search model for grid-style operations.

Ding Weiming, the Changsha Emergency Management Bureau's party secretary, told media at the press conference that the Hunan Provincial Fire and Rescue Corps dispatched five rescue detachments, 116 fire trucks, and 482 firefighters.

Drones, robots and robotic dogs were also deployed to enter high-risk areas for personnel search, fire suppression and the removal of remaining fire points, Ding said, adding that on-site search and rescue work has been basically completed.

To prevent secondary accidents, rescue teams established isolation zones and firebreaks around the plant while using water-spraying and humidifying measures to reduce risks, he added.

Ding also said the next step will focus on securing dangerous areas, especially protecting gunpowder storage facilities, using high-pressure fire trucks and remote-controlled water cannons, while strengthening risk assessment to prevent secondary disasters.

All injured receive medical treatment

CMG learned that all 61 injured people have been sent to hospitals for treatment, including Liuyang People's Hospital and Liuyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Most of the injuries involve soft tissue contusions, abrasions, bone cracks and fractures. Several patients are being treated in intensive care units.

According to information obtained by the CMG, after overnight surgeries and follow-up examinations on Tuesday, the overall condition of the injured remains stable, with no immediate life-threatening cases reported.

Following the accident, Liuyang People's Hospital activated its emergency response plan and formed multiple task groups covering emergency rescue, logistics support and information reporting.

All medical staff canceled their May Day holiday leave and returned to emergency departments to support treatment efforts.

CMG also learned that Hunan Province organized medical experts from major hospitals, including Xiangya Hospital, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Changsha First Hospital and Changsha Central Hospital, to provide on-site consultations and multidisciplinary treatment.

Psychological counseling and follow-up mental health support will also be provided alongside physical treatment.

The city's blood supply has also been centrally coordinated, and local authorities said blood products remain sufficient for ongoing medical needs.

(With input from Xinhua)