Five people were injured, and another four are still missing after an explosion at a chemical company in Xiantao City, central China's Hubei Province.

The incident happened at around 5:30 p.m. on Monday at a workshop of Bluesky Chemical Company in Xiliuhe County in Xiantao City.
The blaze has been brought under control, and rescuers are searching for the missing.

Images circulating online have shown thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the workshop.

The local government said there's no secondary disaster at the scene, and the cause of the explosion is being investigated.

According to database query platform Tianyancha, Bluesky chemical was established in 2015 and has around 50 to 99 staff members.

The company mainly produces and sells silicone products and other raw chemical materials, including hazardous chemicals.