Four people were killed and three more were wounded in an explosion at an illegal fireworks factory in Wuqiang County, north China's Hebei Province.

Information from the department of publicity with Wuqiang County said the explosion took place Sunday afternoon at the home of Zhou Yongshi, a resident with Cuiweiyuan Village of Jieguan Township, killing both Zhou Yongshi and his elder son on the spot.

The wounded are Zhou's first daughter-in-law, the mother of thefirst daughter-in-law, his eight-month-old granddaughter, his second son, and one of his neighbors. Zhou's first daughter-in-law, the mother of the first daughter-in-law died later in hospital.

The homes of Zhou's second son and one of his neighbors in the south were destroyed in the explosion, witnesses said.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2005)