An explosion occurred at a chemical plant in the city of Ferghana in Uzbekistan, killing an undisclosed number of people, the Central Asian country's emergency ministry said on Thursday.

The blast happened at the ammonia production facility of the Farg'onaazot company which produces fertilizers and other chemicals, the ministry said in a statement.

The explosion took place during maintenance and assembly works on Thursday evening.

The statement said that a government commission to support the families of the deceased has also been established.