Cork, Ireland  -  One man has died and two have been injured following an explosion at a chemical plant in the south-western Irish city of Cork, national broadcaster RTE reported Monday.

The explosion in the early hours of Monday occurred at the Corden PharmaChem plant, which employs over 100 people.

A number of workers were taken to Cork University Hospital after the incident, the cause of which is not yet known. The man died in hospital of injuries sustained at the plant.

Irish police, the Health and Safety Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency were investigating.

RTE reported that the incident was the third this year at the plant. There were no injuries in the previous incidents.

On March 2, the over-pressurization of a 200-litre drum led to an explosion and chemical spill, while on March 7 there was a similar explosion, RTE reported. (dpa)