The FINANCIAL -- BEIJING. Four people, including an infant, were killed and two others injured in an explosion at an illegal fireworks shop in eastern China, the Xinhua news agency reported on January 11.

The blast occurred on January 10 afternoon in a farmer's house in the Anhui Province, destroying six rooms which stored materials for making petards and firecrackers.

The owner of the house, who was killed in the explosion, had transported fireworks materials from another illegal workshop in a neighboring town, Xinhua cited a spokesman for the Yuexi county government.

The causes of the accident are being investigated, Xinhua said.

Winter traditionally marks the peak of accidents at Chinese fireworks factories, both legal and illegal, which build up production on New Year's Eve and during the Spring Festival.

This year, the Lunar New Year falls on February 14.

The Chinese believe that fireworks drive away evil spirits.

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