Three people were confirmed dead and four others were injured in a fireworks factory explosion Saturday afternoon in eastern China's Jiangsu province, local work safety authorities said Sunday morning.

At around 2:10 PM Saturday, a fireworks factory in Gaozuo Town of Jianhu County exploded, killing one worker immediately, injuring six others and toppling down four houses.

Two of the injured died later in hospital. Another four injured are still hospitalized and in stable conditions.

After the accident, local government shut down all fireworks factories in the county for safety check.

Cause of the accident is being investigated.

(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2009)