Japan factory blast kills five

An explosion at a Mitsubishi plant in central Japan has left at least five people dead and injured 17 others.

The factory in Yokkaichi City in the Mie prefecture around 350 kilometers south west of Tokyo was being dismantled when the blast happened on Thursday afternoon local time.

Emergency services suspect a hydrogen explosion caused by a chemical reaction as plant operators were cleaning heat exchange equipment at the silicone plant.

Emergency services were quickly on the scene to extinguish the blaze.