Firecracker factory blast in India kills 8 children

What the report says

Eleven people, including eight children, were killed when a firecracker factory exploded in India, according to Al Jazeera’s report citing AFP. The blast took place on Monday in Uttar Pradesh state in northern India and also left several people injured. Local police said the youngest child killed was four years old. The explosion damaged or destroyed several nearby houses, and rescue teams continued searching through the rubble for survivors.

Videos shared on social media showed the scale of the destruction, with demolished homes, dust-covered survivors and emergency workers using excavators and improvised tools to clear debris. The cause of the blast was not immediately known. Authorities said injured people were taken to hospital for treatment, and state officials were directed to help affected families and provide medical support.

The report said this was the third firecracker factory explosion in India during August, underscoring ongoing safety concerns in the sector. As background, India is a major producer of fireworks, especially ahead of festivals such as Diwali, and some factories have long been criticized for unsafe working conditions. The International Labour Organisation has also warned that children can be involved in parts of the industry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the deaths and promised compensation for affected families and injured victims.