Fifteen killed in illegal Chinese fireworks warehouse blast

Beijing

Fifteen people were killed and more than a dozen injured in China Sunday when an illegal fireworks warehouse exploded in the northern Hebei province, state media reported.

The blast Sunday morning shattered windows up to one kilometre (0.6 miles) away from the factory in Dongwang Township, Ningjin county, local officials told state-run news agency Xinhua.

Bloodstains were seen at the gate of a nearby garment factory, Xinhua said, adding that heavy rescue machines were still being brought to the site by evening.

Investigators are looking into the cause of the explosion, the Ningjin government said.