Five people have died and more than 100 have been injured in an explosion in the Russian city of Ryazan, DPA reported, quoted by dariknews.bg, citing regional governor Pavel Malkov.
Malkov reported on "Telegram" about a fire at the factory, which according to Russian state media produces gunpowder and explosives.
The factory has collapsed and there may be more victims trapped under the debris.
Photos and videos show a fire and thick columns of smoke, DPA notes.
A state of emergency has been declared in the area, Malkov said.
At this stage, the cause of the explosion has not been established. However, an investigation has been launched into violations of safety regulations at industrial sites.
The Ryazan region is a frequent target of drone attacks carried out by Ukraine in its fight to repel Russian forces that invaded the country nearly three and a half years ago, DPA reported.
However, there are no indications so far that the explosion was caused by a drone attack or that it was sabotage.