The illegal manufacturing of fireworks has not been ruled out in the incident which caused an explosion at a factory ostensibly manufacturing fertilizer.

 Police at the site.

The chemicals found after the recent accident at the Dang Huynh Company included potassium chlorate, potassium nitrate, anomiac, sulpher and zinc. Because these are the common ingredients for fireworks, the possibility that the facility was being used to produce illegal fireworks has not been ruled out.

Results from the pending investigation seem to show that the volatile chemicals were mixed by hand and that gas stoves were used in the packaging and labeling process.

The HCM City Police Department of Fire Fighting and Prevention said that it was likely that the company had just been negligent about safety protocol, but the possibility that the facility was manufacturing illegal fireworks could not be ruled out.

Three were killed and five injured in the October 17 explosion, which also destroyed at least seven homes in the vicinity. Five others were seriously damaged, according to District 12 authorities. A 1.2 metre-deep hole is still present at the site of the explosion.

Nguyen Toan Thang, chairman of District No12 People's Committee, said that the municipal authorities have provided VND30 million (USD1,400) in compensation to the families of deceased workers, and VND15 million to those injured.