One person has died in the Spanish province of Tarragona after an explosion at a chemical plant, according to several local media outlets.

Several people are injured, with four being treated for "major burns", local officials say.

Officials in the region, which is home to a major chemical industry, have issued an emergency alert as a result of the explosion.

Image: People are being warned to stay indoors as a result of the fire. Pic: Twitter/ Laura Presicce

Image: The fire can be seen for several miles around

Emergency services have called the explosion, which reportedly happened at the Iqoxe plant, a "chemical accident".

They have also advised people in the area to stay inside and close windows and doors until officials can assess the severity of the incident.


They added: "There is no evidence of a toxic cloud".

Videos online show a huge fire in the area, with a mushroom cloud floating above the plant following the explosion.

Residents have told a radio station that the explosion could be heard for miles around.

Some roads in the area have been closed, while some local train travel has been been suspended.

Tarragona, which has a population of 800,000, is 115km (71 miles) south west of Barcelona, the regional capital of Catalonia.