The fire occurred Thursday at about 7 p.m. local time at the Imperial Sugar Company plant in Port Wentworth, a suburb of Savannah.
Around 35 people had been hospitalized with severe burns, but many more received minor injuries, local police said.
"We have seen people that have had burns to their hands all the way to about 80 to 90 % of their body," said Dr. Jay Goldstein at the Memorial Medical Centre in Savannah.
Five workers are still believed to be missing inside the plant, while witnesses said up to 200 people could be trapped. No fatalities have been reported.
A local police spokeswoman, Maj. Gerri Long, said the damage at the refinery was 'extensive' and rescuers were still pulling the victims out from the building.
More than 100 police and firefighters are involved in the rescue operation. The fire is still raging and there is a threat that it could spread to a nearby store which contains toxic substances.
