The explosion left 38 people injured.

The incident took place at a factory in the Morowali Industrial Park on the island of Sulawesi, reported CNN.

Morowali police spokesperson Ipda Hamid told CNN affiliate CNN Indonesia that 13 people had died at the scene, with multiple victims being rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Police have rushed to the spot after the explosion.

The injured people are undergoing treatment in hospital.

The process of nickel smelting is known to be hazardous due to the requirement of high smelting temperatures reaching up to 1,350 degrees Celsius to produce iron sulfide, commonly referred to as matte, reported Jakarta Globe.