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.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2010)