Powerful blast rocks residential building in Moscow (VIDEO)

The explosion damaged the apartment block and sparked a major fire, with over a dozen residents reported injured

A major fire has broken out in southwest Moscow following an explosion at a residential building. At least 15 residents have reportedly been injured in the incident, with a number of people feared trapped inside the burning building.

The explosion appears to have occurred on the top floor of the nine-story building, footage circulating online suggests. The initial blast caused the roof to partially collapse and also blew off several sections of the external wall.

Two people have died as a result of the incident, TASS has reported, citing emergency services.

Extremely graphic footage circulating online purports to show two motionless bodies hanging out of the windows of apartments on fire. Media reports suggested the deceased suffocated on smoke.

A preliminary assessment indicated that the explosion and fire were caused by natural gas, multiple media reports have suggested. Various outlets, however, provided conflicting accounts on the matter, with some suggesting gas canisters were responsible for the explosion, while others claimed a pipeline gas leak was to blame.

The incident triggered a major emergency response, with over 60 firefighters and about 20 units of equipment, including mobile ladders and cranes, deployed to the scene. Rescuers evacuated residents of the damaged section of the building, as well as from apartments in the adjacent stairwells.