Five people have died in an explosion at a chemical plant in Slovenia, BTA reported, citing management and rescue services.

Six workers were injured.

One of them is in serious condition.

A tanker exploded at the plant this morning while unloading chemicals, causing a fire, a fire official said.

There are fears that four people have died in an explosion at a chemical plant in Slovenia

The fire was extinguished before noon.

The factory building suffered serious damage.

Earlier, Slovenian authorities said four people were missing and possibly dead, and about 20 were injured in the incident.

Founded in 1954, the Melamine plant in Kochevie employs nearly 200 people, according to AFP.

Locals said the blast shook the area.

The city, located about 55km southeast of the capital Ljubljana, has a population of 8,000.

The Melamine plant produces chemical products such as melamine resins for paper production, for the construction, woodworking, rubber and varnish industries, for impregnated decorative paper for the furniture industry and impregnated materials for shoe production.

Slovenia's STA news agency described the blast as "the worst industrial fire in recent history".

A total of 17 industrial fires have been registered in Slovenia since 1995, causing mostly material damage.   

killed and wounded

Slovenia

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