Sao Paulo  - At least two people died Thursday in the Brazilian industrial town of Santo Andre, near Sao Paulo, in a huge fire that started at a fireworks shop.

Fire Department spokesman Miguel Jordas said rescue teams were searching for two other people who were missing and believed buried in the rubble.

Town officials said 13 people had been injured in the blasts and had to be hospitalized but were expected to survive.

The site was licensed to operate as a fireworks retailer. Authorities suspect that the owners were illegally storing large quantities of gunpowder at the back of the building, where an unauthorized fireworks factory was reportedly operating.

The midday fire set off explosions that were heard within a radius of 10 kilometres. Four homes near the factory were destroyed, and 10 more homes were damaged. (dpa)