A "number of people" have been injured after an explosion and the collapse of a block of flats in Oxford, police have said.
A Thames Valley force statement said the blast happened at 4.45pm in the Gibbs Crescent and Osney Lane areas.
South Central Ambulance Service said a gas main had exploded and four flats had subsequently collapsed.
One woman is being treated for her injuries but it is not known if anyone else was inside the building at the time.
Thames Valley Police said: "A number of people have sustained injuries and are currently being treated by emergency services.
"Members of the public are advised to avoid the area while officers and other emergency services are on the scene."
Pictures of the scene posted on social media showed debris strewn over a wide area and the remains of what is thought to have been a three-storey flat block in flames.
Witnesses on video showed pieces of window frame and glass that appeared to have been thrown more than 50 metres.
Firefighters were seen trying to extinguish flames in a boat at a marina neighbouring the property.
Juliette Sargeant, who lives nearby, told the Oxford Times: "It was an enormous boom, it was like a sonic boom.
"It sounded like a bomb had gone off. It was very very scary, I was quite shaken."
Andy Dowley, a recruiter who was working nearby when the blast went off, told Sky News: "I was working on the other side of the river when I heard the explosion.
"It was so loud that some tiles on our building slid off. There were around 10 firemen and 10 policemen at the scene."
Some reported hearing a bang as far away as Wantage, 13 miles (20km) away.
West Oxford and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood tweeted: "Thoughts & prayers with all affected by #Osney Mead explosion. Grateful to all emergency responders for bravery & professionalism"
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