Image copyright ReutersAt least one person has been killed and another six are missing after an explosion and fire at German chemical company BASF"s headquarters in Ludwigshafen.
Several more were injured in the blast.
BASF said the explosion had happened during work on a pipeline route for transporting raw chemicals to shipping.
Flames and a cloud of smoke could be seen in a harbour area in the north of the town, where oil and gas tankers supply the plant.
Residents were told to close their windows as the cloud of smoke spread.
The explosion happened shortly before 11:30 (09:30 GMT) on Monday. Police ruled out that the blast was caused by a terrorist attack, reports said.
Several fires broke out after the blast and there were reports of some residents living close to the port having breathing difficulties.
A pall of smoke rose around 100m (330ft) into the air and nearby towns and cities warned residents of the potential risk from the cloud.
Some four hours after the incident small fires were still burning in the area.
The BASF plant is the world"s biggest chemical complex. The company said it was still trying to find out what had happened, but added that it had turned off two steam crackers which make up the heart of its Ludwigshafen facility.
Steam is used to "crack" naphtha gas at the site, ultimately to make products such as ethylene, propylene and hydrogen.
Rhineland-Palatinate police warned motorists in the area to avoid the towns of Oppau, Edigheim and Pfingstweide.
Casualties in German chemical blast
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