7 employees, including 6 women and 1 man, have been killed in an explosion at the Prvi Partizan munitions factory in Uzice, says Interior Minister Ivica Dacic.

14 other people were injured. Dacic said on a visit to the factory that the cause of the explosion was still unclear.

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac said that it was a thankless task talking about the causes of the tragedy and that the authorities would ultimately establish all the details and circumstances. B92 understands that an investigation is under way.

Speaking to B92, Predrag Maric, the head of MUP's emergency situations department, said that the identities of the victims were known, and that the causes of the accident would be made public soon. He added that the 14 individuals injured had been discharged from hospital.

"The inquiry into the causes was impossible last night because of all the smoke, so it started this morning. The first results can be expected during the course of the day. All MUP experts will do their best to conclude the inquiry as soon as possible," said Maric.

"As regards protection measures, the inquiry will obviously determine whether they have been complied with or not, though this factory was among the safest in Serbia," he said.

"It's important to stress that the speedy reaction of fire fighters averted an even greater disaster, as there were about 100 people in the factory. I don't want to give the identities of the victims till the next of kin are informed," Maric added.

A group of Prvi Partizan employees gathered outside the factory premises this morning, but were unwilling to discuss the possible cause of the blast.