Five people were confirmed died and 20 are feared buried alive in an explosion at a manufacturing plant in eastern China's Shandong Province Monday morning.

The blast occurred at around 11 am when 34 workers were at the plant, China's State-Run CCTV reported.

It cited the local fire department as saying 14 people were rescued, and the rescue operation was going on.

Some buildings collapsed due to the powerful explosion, it said.