GUANGZHOU - Fire broke out early Monday at an oil refinery in South China's Guangdong province, but no casualties were caused, authorities said.

The fire was reported at 4:10 am at an oil refinery in Huizhou City, and was put out in three hours, said a spokesman with the administrative committee of the Dayawan Economic and Technical Development Zone, where the refinery is located.

Flames soared over 100 meters high after oil leaked from an equipment at the Huizhou Refinery Company of China National Offshore Oil Corp., the spokesman and witnesses said.

More than 40 fire engines joined the rescue work.

Company sources said the fire did not cause any toxic spill, as only carbon dioxide was detected in the smog.

The fire was put under control by 7:10 am but thick smokes were still seen from miles away.

The refinery is about 40 km from the Dayawan Nuclear Power Station.