MEXICO CITY, July 23 (Reuters) - An explosion at a Jose

Cuervo tequila plant in central Mexico killed at least two

people and forced the evacuation of workers and tourists from

the area in the spirit's hometown of Tequila, the head of the

state's emergency services said on Tuesday.

Victor Hugo Roldan, the head of emergency services in

Jalisco state, told Reuters the blast occurred in a

500,000-litre tank at the plant, and the resulting fire was put

out by company personnel.

At least two other tanks at the facility, operated by the

world's largest tequila maker Becle, also collapsed, he said.

At least five people are so far still missing, according to

an emergency services official who declined to be named as they

were not authorised to speak to the media.

A photo of the aftermath of the explosion released by

emergency services showed a large metal tank emblazoned with the

Cuervo logo collapsed on its side.

The town of Tequila, home to several distilleries of the

agave spirit, is a popular tourist destination about an hour's

drive northwest of Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city.