Massive explosion rocks Malta fireworks factory; two injured | VIDEO

Valletta: A powerful explosion at a fireworks manufacturing facility in Malta injured two individuals on Monday, generating a massive column of smoke and scattering debris across the area, law enforcement authorities reported.

The initial detonation and subsequent blasts occurred at the Ta' Lourdes fireworks factory, located on the northern sector of the Mediterranean island. The force of the explosions shook nearby structures and shattered window glass, according to video footage published by local newspapers, The Times of Malta and Malta Today.

Witnesses interviewed by the publications stated that the primary blast occurred at approximately 6:35 am (10:05 am IST), which was followed shortly thereafter by a second major concussion.

The two men who sustained minor injuries were labouring in adjacent fields when the incident occurred, police officials disclosed via social media. Authorities confirmed that no facility employees were present inside the building at the time of the event.

According to reporting by the Times of Malta, minor secondary detonations continued to occur several hours after the initial blasts.

Edward Mercieca, a local resident, told the newspaper that the morning's first explosion woke him from his sleep.

"It felt like someone picked up a hammer the size of a truck and banged on the side of my house," Mercieca was quoted by the Times of Malta as saying. "The plume of smoke must have been a thousand feet (300 metres) high."

Prime Minister Robert Abela, whose Labour Party secured an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in government following elections on Saturday, issued a statement regarding the industrial accident on social media.

"Thoughts are with the people affected by the explosion that occurred this morning," Abela wrote, adding that emergency response authorities had been deployed immediately to render assistance at the scene.

With inputs from AFP