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Series of explosions at Czech plant - many injured

Prague — Officials say explosions in a Czech machinery plant have injured at least 18 people.

Police spokesperson Hana Kaizarova says the first explosion occurred around 11:00 (10:00 GMT) in a production hall and a number of others followed, making it difficult for rescuers to access the site in the Policske Strojirny A.S. near the town of Policka, some 150km east of Prague.

Kaizarova says it is not immediately clear what material exploded. She says authorities have not discovered any fatalities.

Pavel Svoboda, the head of the regional rescue service, says at least three rescuers have been injured. Authorities have warned the public to avoid the area.

The situation was brought "under control" by the afternoon, according to firefighters quoted by the Czech news agency CTK.

They added that the building hit by the explosions was isolated from the rest of the factory.

The same factory was rocked by a blast and fire in September 2015. Two people were injured then.

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