CHINA. FIREWORKS FACTORY MANAGER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BLAST KILLING 36

Shen Xishuan, legal representative of Lilin Firecrackers Company Ltd. in Linqi Town, Linzhou City in China’s Henan Province, was sentenced to death at the Intermediate People's Court of Anyang City with a two-year reprieve for illegally trading explosives. The sentencing came following an explosion in a storehouse of the fireworks factory on January 29, the first day of the year according to the Lunar Calendar. Sixteen people died in the blast and 20 others died later. Investigators said the blast was triggered by kids' mischief-making. Three children aged under 14 threw a burning firecracker through a ventilation intake into one of the company's firework storehouses. The blast set off a series of explosions in neighbouring storehouses, which led to the heavy casualties.