AN EXPLOSION and fire at a fireworks shop in eastern China has killed eight people and left two others with minor burns ahead of lunar new year celebrations.

The Sunday afternoon blast in a village in Jiangsu province was caused by a resident setting off fireworks near the shop, the Donghai county government said.

Setting off firecrackers at midnight as the new lunar year begins is a tradition in China, but many places have banned fireworks in recent years, at least in part because of air pollution.

They may make a comeback after some regional governments eased their bans last year.

This year’s lunar new year celebration, also known as the Spring Festival, takes place today, marking the start of the year of the horse in the Chinese zodiac.

Following Sunday’s explosion, the Ministry of Emergency Management urged all regions to strengthen the supervision of the production, transport, sales and use of fireworks to prevent future accidents.

A ministry statement said that trying out fireworks and firecrackers around shops should be strictly prohibited and called on local governments to identify and eliminate blind spots “to ensure the people have a safe, auspicious and happy Spring Festival.”