ROME - At least one person was dead and six others were reported missing after a fireworks factory blew up near the city of Pescara in central Italy on Thursday.

According to local rescue teams, a first blast was followed by a more violent explosion that also hit a group of firefighters who had rushed to the spot.

The explosion struck nearby buildings and sparked a large fire in the surrounding area, with firefighters making frantic efforts to keep the flames under control.

"One firefighter was injured," a local official was quoted as saying by Corriere della Sera, the largest circulating newspaper in Italy.

"I am not able to describe the exact situation. We must use extreme caution in approaching the flames as there are still a lot of explosive materials in the factory," he added.

The blast, which occurred in the largest factory of its kind in the area, was heard up from 20 km away, according to local reports.