On the afternoon of 13th February, a firecracker explosion during the traditional "Burning Cannons" festival in Huyan Village, Dongba Town, Yunan County, Yunfu City, Guangdong, left several people injured.

The "Burning Cannons" festival is a local folk tradition held around the Lantern Festival, where villagers gather in open spaces to light and scramble for firecrackers in a ritual believed to bring blessings and prosperity. On the day of the incident, a "cannon tower"—a structure over ten metres high made of bamboo and wood—was built on an open field at the village entrance.

During preparations, several villagers were tying firecrackers to the tower when one person lit a string of firecrackers. However, they appeared to lose control due to the rapid ignition, causing the entire stockpile on the tower to catch fire. Many villagers on the platform did not immediately realise the danger, and as the densely packed firecrackers ignited in succession, a massive fireball erupted. Some villagers stumbled and jumped off the structure in panic, while others fell from the platform.

Following the explosion, five injured villagers were taken to a local hospital, with three transferred to a hospital in Yunfu City due to severe injuries. One person suffered extensive burns covering up to 70% of their body and was admitted to intensive care, though fortunately, none of the injured are in life-threatening condition.