A HUGE explosion at a fireworks factory in Garrapinillos (Zaragoza province) has left five people dead and another six injured, three of whom are in a critical condition.
Firefighters were called out at about 14.15hrs today (Monday) when a massive blast at the plant belonging to Pirotecnia Zaragozana sent workers flying through the air.
Emergency services spent the next couple of hours looking for employees believed to be missing, but now say they have accounted for everyone who was on site at the time.
Six people were taken to Zaragoza city's Miguel Servet hospital and the Hospital Clínico Universitario, two of whom only suffered minor wounds, but another two of whom are in intensive care.
The number of injured parties may rise, since several men and women on the premises at the time travelled to health centres in their own cars or were given lifts by those who were unhurt.
Columns of smoke and flames are still visible from nearly half a mile away.
Mayor of Garrapinillos, Luis Miguel Roda, says the factory was moved away from the residential part of the town some years ago 'for safety reasons', meaning nobody outside the plant at the time of the blast has been hurt.
Four workers lost their lives immediately in the blast, and a fifth was taken to A&E but died shortly afterwards.
Pirotecnia Zaragozana is one of Spain's largest fireworks producers.
It was founded in 1860, and supplies fireworks to a number of European countries including the UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, The Netherlands and Switzerland, and even as far away as Canada.
Among the 43 employees are specialist technicians, engineers and chemical experts.
