Two people were killed and four others were injured in a powder explosion at an illegal firecracker workshop in north China's Hebei Province, the provincial work safety bureau said Monday.

The explosion occurred at 10:40 AM Monday in Yeying village of Hengshui City. The powder stored in villager Ma Feng's workshop for making firecrackers exploded, leaving two dead at the scene and four others injured, the provincial bureau of work safety said.

All the four injured have been hospitalized but are out of critical condition, according to the bureau.

Police are investigating the cause of the explosion.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2006)