The owner of a fireworks shop in central China died on Tuesday from drinking pesticide, just days after blowing up his business in protest at officials who closed it for “failing to meet air quality standards”, according to Chinese media reports.
The owner, identified only by his surname Peng, had operated the business for three years in Chenzhou, Hunan province, and blew it up with explosives, according to mainland magazine China Newsweek.
Shandong-based news outlet the Qilu Evening News reported on Monday that the blast occurred on Sunday.
A video circulating online showed flames and smoke at the shop, accompanied by a huge blast, with the shop’s walls collapsing in and a white car by the roadside overturned.
Authorities in Chenzhou said in a notice on Monday that Peng had published a video of himself drinking pesticide.
Peng was taken to Chenzhou No 1 People’s Hospital for treatment, a person affiliated with the hospital told Jiupai News, a Hubei-based official media outlet.