More than 830 firecracker factories in Jiangxi Province have been ordered to stop production to ward off possible dangers of explosions due to continuous days of high temperature, an official confirmed Tuesday.

The provincial work safety committee recently issued an order to fireworks factories demanding they stop production from Aug. 1, following two firecracker factory explosions taking place in Hebei Province in north China and Fujian Province in the east in late July, said the official with the committee.

The province has been hit by a heatwave for more than 20 days, with the highest temperature reaching 40 degrees Celsius. The committee said that the continuous high temperature has posed a threat to the safety of work sites at firecracker factories.

The committee also warned firecracker makers to strengthen management of finished products and raw materials kept in storehouses.

Small chemical plants and lighter makers were also ordered to stop production.

Inspection teams will be sent to major firecracker-producing cities and counties to monitor the implementation of the order.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2003)