China's top procuratorate said on Thursday that it has placed a deadly fireworks factory explosion in Liuyang, Hunan province, under its direct supervision as part of efforts to strictly punish crimes that endanger workplace safety and protect people's lives and property.

The explosion occurred on May 4 at a workshop of a factory in Liuyang, killing 26 people and injuring 61, according to official reports.

Liuyang police opened an investigation on the day of the incident on suspicion of causing a major liability accident. Responsible personnel from the company have since been placed under criminal detention, and the case remains under further investigation.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate required procuratorial organs in Hunan to fully perform their duties and work with public security authorities and other relevant departments to identify the cause of the accident and clarify the facts of the case. It also urged efforts to identify illegal acts and regulatory violations by those involved and to impose severe punishment, in accordance with the law, on those found to bear serious criminal responsibility.

An SPP official said that while procuratorial organs must strictly crack down on criminal offenses endangering production safety, they should also focus on analyzing prominent problems exposed by such cases, including weaknesses in risk prevention and workplace safety management.

The official also urged efforts to strengthen workplace safety responsibilities, advance risk inspections and rectification in key industries and sectors, and safeguard people's lives and property.