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Fireworks Truck Explodes on Bridge in China Fireworks Truck Explodes on Bridge in China
(about 7 hours later)
HONG KONG - A truck laden with fireworks exploded on a bridge in central China on Friday, unleashing a blast that threw vehicles some 30 yards to the ground below and killed at least six people. HONG KONG — A truck laden with fireworks exploded on an elevated expressway in central China on Friday, unleashing a blast that threw vehicles 30 yards to the ground below and killing at least nine people, state news reports said.
The truck was on an expressway near Sanmenxia in Henan Province in morning fog when it exploded, wiping out a length of the Yichang Bridge, according to the Xinhua news agency. The truck was on an expressway near Sanmenxia in Henan Province in morning fog when the truck erupted, causing an 87-yard section of the Yichang Bridge to collapse, according to the Web site of Dahe Daily, a newspaper in Henan, which cited rescue officials at the site. Earlier, officials had raised the possibility that a bridge collapse set off the explosion.
One initial news report said at least 26 people were killed, but officials on the scene later dismissed that number as too high, according to Xinhua, which said about 15 people were also injured. Fireworks are a tradition of China’s traditional Lunar New Year celebrations, which begin on Feb. 9, and the explosion was a reminder of the dangers brought by the crush of people and goods on the move before the holiday.
The widespread use off fireworks is a tradition of China’s traditional Spring Festival celebrations that begin on Feb. 9, and the explosion was a reminder of the intense pressures brought by the crush of people and goods on the move before the vacation period starts. China Central Television reported that one eyewitness injured in the accident said that because of an earlier accident before the explosion, traffic had been snarled on the expressway and a number of vehicles had crashed into one another.
Pictures on Chinese television and news websites showed rescuers clamoring over shattered remains of trucks that plunged to earth, with part of one truck hanging off the severed section of the bridge. Reports from the scene said that from 10 to 25 vehicles fell off the bridge, and rescuers were searching for survivors amid the jumble of wreckage. One initial news report said at least 26 people were killed, but officials on the scene later dismissed that number as too high, according to the Web site of People’s Daily, which said about 11 people were injured.
Images on Chinese television and news Web sites showed rescuers clambering over the shattered remains of trucks that had plunged to earth, with part of one truck hanging off the severed section of the bridge. Reports from the scene said 10 to 25 vehicles fell off the bridge.
“A number of vehicles were crushed under the fallen bridge section, adding to the difficulties of the rescuers,” said a report on China Central Television.“A number of vehicles were crushed under the fallen bridge section, adding to the difficulties of the rescuers,” said a report on China Central Television.
Most reports said the explosion triggered the bridge collapse, and pictures showed charred debris along the expressway. But Central Chinese Television news said investigators were considering the possibility that a bridge collapse triggered the explosion. After the explosion, the Ministry of Public Security convened a video conference with police officials across the country, urging them to tighten controls on the production and transportation of fireworks, according to the Web site of Legal Daily, a state-run newspaper.