Five people were killed after two explosions at a family-run factory in Sicily's Messina region.

Two workmen and the 71-year-old wife of the owner of the Costa company in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto were killed in the late afternoon on Wednesday.

Police said the owner's son made an attempt to save his mother, and was one of the four people taken to hospital with serious injuries. One of the injured died later in hospital. 

Giancarmine Carusone, police commander, said: "According to the initial evidence, it seems that there were two explosions," with the first one having likely caused the second. 

Carusone added it is suspected that sparks from welding equipment had triggered the blasts.

A worker who had previously been reported missing was later discovered in the rubble, and another employee who was inside the depot at the time of the explosion was pulled out alive. Firefighters continued to search for other victims.

An inquiry into the disaster has been launched by the local prosecutor's office. 

The staff were preparing for typical New Year celebrations in the south of Italy, which involve traditional fireworks that are believed to chase away evil spirits. The tradition dates back to the 1500s.