At least one person is dead and dozens more are injured after an explosion ripped through a large market in Armenia.

The blast happened at a fireworks storage area at the Surmalu market in the capital Yerevan on Sunday afternoon.

It set off a large fire and more than three hours afterwards, firefighters were still trying to extinguish the flames.

Photos from the scene showed a towering column of smoke in the area.

Rescue efforts are under way to find victims believed to be trapped under slabs of concrete and twisted metal.

The Associated Press (AP) said one of its reporters saw two people pulled from the rubble – a woman with a leg injury and a young man who appeared to be unconscious.

At least 36 people are injured, according to AP. Russian news agencies cited the Armenian emergencies ministry as saying 45 were hurt.

The market is just over a mile south of the city’s centre.

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