Death toll in Spain fireworks factory explosion rises to six

The death toll from an explosion at a fireworks factory in northeastern Spain rose to six after police found a body in the ruins of the plant, local authorities said Tuesday.

Six people were in hospital, half of them in serious or very serious condition, following the blast on Monday at the factory on the outskirts of Zaragoza near the city’s airport, a regional government spokesman said.

“At 5 am the remains of a person who was missing was found,” local police said in a Twitter message.

The cause of the explosion was unknown.

Founded in 1860, the Pirotecnia Zaragozana company employs over 40 people and exports fireworks mostly to Europe and Canada, according to its website.

The company was purchased in January 2015 by French firm Etienne Lacroix.

August is a busy time for fireworks factories in Spain as many small towns celebrate religious festivals at this time of the year with fireworks shows.