At least 21 people are feared dead after an explosion at a power station in central China.

Five more have been wounded, according to reports. Three of the injured are thought to be seriously hurt.

The explosion was caused after a high pressure steam tube broke at a power station in Danyang, Hubei province, according to authorities.

The pipe ruptured at 3.20pm Beijing time on Thursday at the Ma Dian Gan Shi Power Generating Company site, according to Chinese news site Huanqiu.com. Rescuers were still searching for survivors.

Central government have ordered factories to upgrade their safety procedures, but industrial sites in China continue to suffer frequent accidents.