Hundreds of fireworks factories in China were reportedly rushing to fill overseas orders, including for July 4th celebrations, when a deadly blast killed 26 people. The incident occurred during peak production season before a mandatory ban.

When a deadly blast rocked a small town in central China this week, killing 26 and injuring 61, hundreds of fireworks factories in the surrounding area were in peak production season for overseas orders, including for the 250th anniversary of American independence on July 4, industry insiders said. They added that fireworks producers in Liuyang, Hunan province – often called the “fireworks capital of the world” – were rushing to fill orders before a mandatory production ban from June to August.....