Update3: Fireworks factory blows up, bodies of two men found

Updated Tuesday 6 a.m.

The lifeless bodies of two men were pulled out of the rubble of St Sebastian Fireworks Factory last night, some six hours after the factory blew up at 6.15 p.m.

The bodies of Damien Agius, 20 and Fredu Stellini, 45, were found after a crane lifted a large slab of concrete which had been the roof of the workshop where the powerful blast took place.

The explosion was heard over a wide area and an eye witness in Valletta near the Auberge de Castille said he saw "a huge mushroom cloud" .

Firemen from the Civil Protection Department and policemen were quickly on the scene, searching in the rubble.

A man was treated for slight injuries at a health centre shortly after the blast while another received treatment in hospital for slight injuries suffered in a fall as he ran from the scene. Another three men who were also at the fireworks factory were not injured.

The men had been working on ground fireworks when the blast took place.

Ambulances and other vehicles had difficulty getting to the site because of the large number of people who went there, including relatives of people who normally work in the factory.

President George Abela and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi were among those who visited the scene. Two priests were also seen entering the precincts of the fireworks factory.

The last fireworks factory incident took place last October when part of a fireworks factory at Bidnija blew up. A man died as a result of his injuries a few days later. Another two men were injured.