Explosion rocks German chemicals site

At least one person has been killed and four others are missing after an explosion rocked an industrial park in the German city of Leverkusen on Tuesday.

The blast sent dark plumes of smoke into the sky.

A fire at the Chempark site had been extinguished after an explosion at 9.40 a.m. local time, according to the park's operator.

Emergency services have rescued 12 injured people and a further four who were seriously injured, according to authorities.

The area around the site was sealed off and surrounded by emergency vehicles.

Police asked residents living nearby to stay indoors and shut doors and windows, in case of toxic fumes.

It's not immediately clear what caused the explosion.

The site is home to the Lanxess company and also Bayer, the major chemical corporation.