BUENOS AIRES – An explosion at a chemical factory in the central Argentine city of Cordoba left a total of 66 injured, with two of them in critical condition, officials told Efe on Friday.

The blast occurred around 9:00 p.m. Thursday evening just minutes after a small fire was reported inside the plant of the local Quimicos Rigoni company, located in the residential neighborhood of Alta Cordoba on the north side of the city.

A total of 66 people were injured but only two have severe injuries, officials of the Cordoba provincial government told Efe.

Those in critical condition are a 15-year-old youth and a woman in her 70s. Both remain hospitalized.

Police and firefighters are investigating the causes of the explosion, while local authorities evaluate the material damages, which extend to several blocks around the factory.

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