Fireworks factory explosion rocks Malta, shatters windows across island

A massive explosion at a fireworks factory in Malta damaged nearby farms, shattered windows and injured two men who were in nearby fields, according to police and local media.

The blast happened at about 6:35 a.m. Monday at a fireworks factory in northern Malta, an island country in the Mediterranean Sea south of Italy. The blast was heard from several kilometers away and rattled buildings across large parts of the island.

The Malta Police Force said all licensed workers connected to the factory were accounted for and none of them were on site when the explosion occurred.

Two men who were in nearby fields were transported to a local hospital after suffering shock and slight injuries, according to police.

Footage recorded by witnesses showed a fire burning at the site, followed by several smaller explosions before a much larger blast sent flames, debris and a tall column of gray smoke into the air.

Other footage showed the shockwave breaking windows inside a home. MaltaToday reported that several nearby farms suffered structural damage and that some animals were killed, including birds, rabbits and dairy cows.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately known. Authorities have not released a damage estimate following the blast.