4 missing, 4 injured in Spain factory blast

Four people were taken to hospital in serious condition and four more are missing following an explosion in a fireworks factory on the outskirts of the city of Zaragoza, in northeastern Spain.

The explosion, which happened at 2:15 p.m. local time (1215 GMT), could be heard up to 20 km away, according to local media reports.

Emergency services were quickly on the scene of the accident, but their attempts to reach the exact area of the explosion have been hampered by a thick cloud of smoke which hangs over the site, while several smaller explosions have impeded the ongoing rescue work.

One of the victims taken to hospital was described as being in "very serious" condition, having suffered from blast injuries and burns, while the condition of the other three was described as "serious".

Source: XINHUA