Jinan: At least 13 people have been killed in an explosion at an illegal fireworks plant in eastern China, officials said Sunday.
The blast occurred at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday in an abandoned plant that was being used illegally for producing fireworks in Qianwang village in Shandong province, the provincial government said.
There were 16 people, including four men and 12 women, inside the plant when the explosion took place, a government spokesperson said, citing Ling Xi'en, the owner of the plant.
Ling has been arrested and an investigation into the incident is under way.
