TOKYO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - An explosion was heard at Japan's Taketoyo thermal power station in Aichi prefecture in central Japan on Wednesday, NHK news agency said, citing witnesses.

Firefighters were dispatched to the power plant run by JERA, Japan's top utility, an official at the local fire department told Reuters on Wednesday.

JERA did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for a comment. (Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama and Mariko Katsumura Writing by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Kim Coghill)