CHANGSHA: Three firefighters were reported missing in a firecrackers plant explosion in central China's Hunan Province Tuesday morning, the local fire control authorities said.

The blast happened at 7:10 am at Changjin Firecrackers Plant in Taolin Town of Linxiang City, about two hours' drive from the provincial capital Changsha, said a spokesman with the Hunan Provincial Fire Brigade.

He said the fire brigade in Linxiang City sent two fire engines to the site at 7:30 am.

A second blast during the rescue work buried a firefighter, who was later rescued, and left three others missing, the spokesman said.

He said further casualties were not immediately known, and rescue work was continuing.