At least 13 people have been killed and several others injured in a firecracker factory explosion in India’s southern state of Kerala, officials have confirmed.
The blast occurred on Tuesday afternoon in Thrissur district, where around 40 workers were reportedly assembling firecrackers in a cluster of temporary sheds ahead of an upcoming Hindu festival. Five of the injured are said to be in critical condition.
Authorities said the explosion triggered secondary blasts, complicating rescue efforts and slowing emergency response teams. The sheds were located near paddy fields with limited road access, making it difficult for rescue vehicles to reach the scene quickly.
Witnesses described a powerful blast that was felt several kilometres away, with some residents initially mistaking it for an earthquake. Nearby homes also sustained damage as panic spread through surrounding communities.
Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan said the fireworks units involved had official permission to manufacture and store explosives in designated areas as part of preparations for the Thrissur Pooram festival.
The fireworks were being prepared for the Thiruvambady Temple, one of the two main participants in the festival’s large-scale ceremonial displays. Officials said food had been arranged for about 40 workers, suggesting that at least that number may have been present at the time of the explosion.
Local authorities have not yet determined the cause of the blast. While some officials suggested extreme heat may have contributed, others said investigations are ongoing. “There is still no clarity on how many workers were in the shed or the extent of injuries,” municipal chairman P N Surendran said.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and assign responsibility. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said specialist doctors from other states would be deployed if needed to assist with treating burn victims.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial compensation of 200,000 rupees ($2,137) for the families of those killed and 50,000 rupees for the injured.
The tragedy comes just days after a similar explosion in neighbouring Tamil Nadu state killed at least 25 people, underscoring ongoing safety concerns in India’s firecracker industry.
Accidents in fireworks factories are relatively common in India, particularly in production hubs such as Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, where weak enforcement, overcrowded facilities and the use of volatile chemicals have repeatedly led to deadly incidents. A study recorded nearly 10,000 accidents in Sivakasi between 2003 and 2010 alone, including hundreds of fatalities.
Kerala has also witnessed major disasters in the past, including a 2016 explosion at the Puttingal Temple in Kollam district that killed more than 100 people and injured hundreds after stockpiled fireworks ignited during an unauthorised display.
