XI'AN-- Two people have been confirmed dead and three others remain missing after a fireworks blast ripped through an abandoned plant in Northwest China's Shaanxi province Wednesday, local authorities said Thursday.

The explosion, which also left five others injured, happened around 5 pm in Xingzhen township, Pucheng county and continued into midnight, according to the county's publicity department.

An initial investigation showed that Xu Shengli, a villager of Xinglong village in the town, is suspected of illegally storing the fireworks in the plant.

Search work for the missing is still ongoing and the injured are being treated in a local hospital.

Further investigation is under way.