AKIPRESS.COM - At least seven people have been killed after a gas pipeline exploded in the Bangladeshi port city of Chittagong, Sky News reports.

The gas pipeline exploded in front of a five-storey building, blowing walls off the building, a local police official said, citing witnesses.

Police chief Mohammed Mohsin said at least 25 people were taken to hospital and firefighters joined the rescue operation.

It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion. 

News reports said the road in front of the explosion site was busy with people and tricycle rickshaws, and that a boundary wall fell on the people on the road.