The death toll in Friday's firecrackers explosion in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has climbed to nine, with one more body retrieved in the debris, local authorities said Saturday.

Eight people were injured in the blast, which happened at 3:50 p.m. at Xinping Firecrackers Co. Ltd. in Pucheng County, a traditional production base of the festive explosives, the provincial work safety bureau said in a statement.

It said most of the victims were local peasants who were employed by the firm.

The explosion tore down all seven workshops of the company, which was only 500 meters from the nearest farmhouse of Yilong Village.

Police are chasing the company boss Qu Pingxin, a native of Yilong Village who fled after the accident, said Zhi Jianfeng, deputy head and public security chief of Pucheng County.

A joint investigation team was dispatched to the county Friday afternoon, consisting officials from the provincial work safety, public security and health authorities.