[3] At the time of the disaster, explosives were commonly used in China for mining and to clear fields for agriculture, making them easily accessible to anyone.

[4] On 16 July 2001, at 3:25 a.m., Ma Hongqing (Chinese: 马宏清; 19 September 1950 – 23 September 2001), an illegal explosives manufacturer from Mafang Village, attempted to steal another manufacturer's 30+ tons of ammonium nitrate explosives but failed to do so, after which he lit a fuse equipped with a detonator and fled the scene.

[3][5] The subsequent explosion decimated the sleeping village, damaging 311 houses and killing at least 89 people and injuring 98 others.

[4] Ma Hongqing's own explosives factory, stone quarry, and chicken farm had all recently shut down.

[6] He had originally fled to Wuhai, Inner Mongolia, after the explosion and intended on committing suicide by self-immolation, but decided to return home two days before his arrest to accept his fate.