VIDEO: 11 injured in New York building collapse

An apartment building in New York City has collapsed after an explosion, leaving at least 11 people injured. There are fears that some people may be trapped in the rubble.

Television station WABC said residents heard a large explosion in an East Harlem building near Park Avenue and 116th Street at around 9am local time today.

The five-storey building appeared to have been reduced to rubble.

TV news footage showed billowing smoke and firefighters dousing the site from ladder trucks. Bricks also cover parked vehicles.

The site is adjacent to Metro-North commuter train tracks, not far from the north-eastern tip of Central Park.

Metro-North has halted services to and from Grand Central Terminal.