Four die in Italian fireworks factory blast

ROME, Italy (CNN) -- An explosion Friday at a central Italian fireworks factory killed at least four people and injured another, officials said.

The explosion at Ciandri Pirotecnica occurred at 6:20 p.m. local time (12:20 p.m. EST) in Morrona, a section of the town of Terricciola located 25 miles (40 kilometers) outside Pisa in the Tuscany district.

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"Rescue workers are battling a big fire and have recovered the bodies of four people," a firefighter told Reuters. "Another person suffered burns from the explosion."

The firefighter said he did not know how many people were inside the factory, which was operating when the blast occurred, according to the Italian news agency AGI.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation, The Associated Press reported.

At least 10 people have died in accidents at Italian fireworks factories over the past four years, according to media reports.