WUHAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The emergency management department of central China's Hubei Province on Friday released an investigation report regarding a fatal fireworks accident that occurred in the city of Yicheng in the province on Feb. 18.
The accident took place at approximately 2:22 p.m. at a store located in Jinpu Village in this city, which caused 12 deaths and direct economic losses of 12.79 million yuan (about 1.9 million U.S. dollars).
According to the investigation, the direct cause was that a customer surnamed Xie illegally test-fired a firework in front of the store, which ignited a large quantity of fireworks displayed outside the store, triggering a chain of explosions and fires both outside and inside the premises.
People outside fled into the store, but the front door was blocked by the burning fireworks and the rear rolling shutter door was closed, preventing timely escape and resulting in heavy casualties.
The investigation pointed to a number of problems exposed by the accident, including illegal and irregular operations at fireworks and firecracker retail stores, lax government oversight of permit approval, ineffective performance of duties by local Party committees, governments and departments, and inadequate supervision of the flow of oversized or over-dosage products into the market.
The report noted that Xie has been arrested by public security authorities on suspicion of negligently endangering public safety by dangerous means. As the store's actual operator, surnamed Lin, had died in the accident, no criminal responsibility is recommended.
Yang, a co-operator of the store, is recommended to receive administrative penalties, with suspected criminal conduct transferred to public security authorities. ■
