Amman, May 8 (Petra)-- Chinese authorities announced on Friday that the death toll from a fireworks factory explosion in central China's Hunan Province has risen following the incident that occurred last Monday evening.

As of 12:00 p.m. Friday Beijing time, the explosion had killed 37 people, while one person remains missing and 51 others are receiving treatment in hospitals. Five of the injured are in critical condition, although their vital signs are reported to be stable.

Search and rescue operations at the site have been largely completed, according to China's Xinhua News Agency.

In the aftermath of the explosion, authorities in Changsha immediately activated an emergency response plan, formed a special task force, and deployed more than 1,500 personnel to carry out rescue operations and provide medical assistance.

Police have also detained eight individuals suspected of negligence leading to the accident.

//Petra// MF