NANJING, April 16 -- A chemical plant blasted in east China's Jiangsu Province, local authorities said Wednesday.

The blast occurred around 10 a.m. at Shuangma Chemical Plant in Rugao City, according to sources with the city's publicity department.

Rescue work is under way, and some injured people have been retrieved from the scene, sources said. ' It is not immediately known how many people have been killed or injured.

An investigation into the cause of the blast is ongoing.