Six killed in three China detonator blasts

Beijing, July 18: Six people were killed and six injured in three detonator blast accidents in a central Chinese province, Xinhua news agency said today.

The first accident happened on Sunday when villagers in Taiqian county, Henan province, were making detonators in a residential building.

''The blast killed two on the spot and destroyed two houses,'' Xinhua said.

The second blast occurred two hours later in the city of Zhumadian when several local residents were making detonators.

Two people were killed and three injured.

The third accident killed two people and injured three on Monday when the five people were making detonators in an underground factory in Fanxian county.

China makes more than 3 billion detonators a year and all are supposed to be individually stamped with unique serial numbers to ensure they are not misused.

But illegal manufacture and storage of detonators and explosives, much of which is used in the coal mining industry, cause frequent and serious accidents.

Reuters>