Multiple explosions were heard within seconds of each other and have left the building seriously damaged, according to reports

A series of huge explosions have left a Japanese factory seriously damaged after it was engulfed with smoke and flames.

Multiple blasts were heard at the aluminium plating plant, operated by Shinkou Alumer Inc., in Kitakyushu, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Firefighters were first alerted to the scene at 6.24am although it took until midday to extinguish the blaze.

It is thought that the deadly blasts were caused by water infiltrating the aluminium melting process.

A spokesman for the fire department dealing with the incident said: “Our initial investigation indicates the possibility that water somehow got into a furnace in the process of melting aluminium and caused vapor explosions.”

Six employees were working inside the plant at the time, but all escaped unhurt according to the spokesman.

Footage shows smoke and flames engulfing the building as several loud bangs are heard.

The extent of the damage to the factory is not yet clear.

Earlier this week a massive explosion ripped through the city of Dongying, in China, after a blaze was thought to have been ignited in a chemical factory.