Death toll rises to nine in blast at Japanese fireworks plant

The death toll from an explosion at a fireworks factory in southern Japan climbed to nine as authorities identified the remains of a missing worker, police said yesterday.

Another four people were injured in the blast in Kagoshima, about 990km southwest of Tokyo.

The explosion levelled the Nangoku Fireworks Co. and damaged about 40 homes in the neighbourhood.

Media reports said it was the deadliest accident at a Japanese fireworks factory in more than a decade.