[WATCH] Two dead and dozens injured in China port explosion

At least two people have been killed and 30 injured after an explosion in the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo.

The blast is said to have occurred in a district on the Yong River at about 9.00am on Sunday, causing some other nearby buildings to collapse.

Local media reported that at least 30 people had been taken to local hospitals during the rescue operations.

Rescue workers are still looking for survivors (Photo:BBC)

Footage showed rescuers wearing helmets carrying people away from an area surrounded by debris, while others stood over people lying on the ground.

The cause of the explosion is unclear, although the state broadcaster denied it was due to a gas explosion. An enquiry has been launched to determine the cause of the explosion led by the local police in Jiangbei district.

At least 30 people have been injured (Photo:Sky news)

Industrial accidents are common in China, and have prompted calls for better safety standards.

The number of workplace deaths in 2017 is reported to have fallen by more than 25% from 2016, yet industrial fatalities still add up to at least 29,000 in the year to date.