A man has died following an explosion at a chemical and pharmaceutical plant in County Cork.

58-year-old Liam Nodwell from Glanmire was killed at the explosion at the Cordon PharmaChem factory in Little Island.

The blast happened at around 1.25am this morning.

Two other men were also injured in the blast, with one of the men in a critical condition.

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An investigation is underway into the cause of the explosion, which happened at around 1.30am.

A number of investigations are now under way to establish the cause of the explosion.

The Health and Safety Authority is conducting one of the investigations and confirmed that it issued two notices to the company restricting production in specific areas of the plant following two explosions there at the beginning of March.

Gardaí and the Environmental Protection Agency are also expected to conduct investigations.

Corden PharmaChem has issued a statement expressing its sympathy to Mr Nodwell's family.

(NS/JM)