New Delhi  - At least 27 people, including 12 children, were killed in an explosion at an illegal fireworks factory in the western Indian state of Rajasthan.

The explosion Wednesday night was so powerful that six houses collapsed, the PTI news agency reported.

Ten people who were accused of being involved in illegally manufacturing fireworks were arrested, and 16 injured people were taken to hospital, PTI said, citing police.

Investigators were seeking to determine what caused the blast. (dpa)