At least five people have died, including firefighters and workers, and more than 100 have been injured in an explosion at a factory in southern Taiwan, according to authorities on Saturday.

The incident occurred late Friday at the "Lunh Technologies" golf ball manufacturing plant in Pingtung County.

Search and rescue operations continued throughout the night and into the early hours of Saturday morning, according to the Central News Agency.

Rescue workers are still battling the flames on Saturday morning.

The agency quoted authorities as saying that the five deceased include three firefighters as well as one male and one female worker. At least five other people, including a firefighter, remain trapped at the explosion site.

The Central News Agency reported that the explosion caused part of the factory building to collapse, trapping many individuals under the rubble.

On Saturday, dozens of the injured are receiving treatment in the hospital. Local media reported that the death toll is expected to rise.