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At least one person was injured after a fire erupted on Thursday at a factory in Austria, local media reports. Clips and pictures circulating online show a thick column of smoke rising above the Winzendorf market town.

The fire is believed to have erupted at a company manufacturing pyrotechnics, local news outlet Kurier reports. Multiple explosions were also heard in the area, according to photographer and X user @Esterreicherr. Residents reported hearing a "loud bang" with a black cloud of smoke then rising into the sky.

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"There was a loud bang, followed by a fire at the pyrotechnics company," said Richard Berger of the Wiener Neustadt district fire brigade command.

The cause of the reported fire was not immediately known and it was not immediately clear whether the explosions were heard before the blaze broke out.

One person was rescued from the building with serious injuries and was airlifted to hospital. The premises have been evacuated, and a gathering point has been set up for the staff in a square in the town centre, local news outlet Noen reports.

The affected company is believed to be Astotec Pyrotechnic Solutions, a manufacturer of pyrotechnic products.

Firefighters say the blaze is now “well under control,” with a large-scale operation continuing both inside and outside the building.

Aktuell sind im Bereich Winzendorf in Niederösterreich mehrere Explosionen zu hören. Einsatzkräfte befinden sich auf dem Weg zum Einsatzort. Die Lage ist derzeit unklar. Laut ersten Infos ist eine Munitionsfabrik betroffen. Weitere Informationen folgen. pic.twitter.com/6IjsBwyf4L

The coordinated firefighting efforts have been effective, with Berger expressing optimism that the blaze had been significantly contained. Firefighters brought the factory blaze under control at around 1pm.

According to Sonja Kellner of the Lower Austrian Red Cross, around 100 people were taken to an information centre, where they were supported by Red Cross staff and a crisis intervention team.

An emergency medical helicopter, the Red Cross district command centre and five ambulances were also deployed to the scene.