Six killed in fireworks explosion

Six people have been killed and two others injured when fireworks in an illegal workshop exploded in southern China's Hunan province.

The explosion took place in an illegal factory in the city of Changsha, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

It said the dead are owner Liu Junping, his wife, 13-year-old son, and three female employees. Two other female employees were seriously injured, county officials said. The cause of the accident was still under investigation.

Fireworks explosions kill hundreds each year in China, where pyrotechnics are especially popular during celebrations of the lunar Chinese New Year, which begin February 12.

Earlier this month, an explosion at a fireworks factory in Hunan province killed six people and prompted the temporary closure of 170 firecracker producers.