An explosion tore through a residential building near central Istanbul’s Taksim Square on Monday, injuring several people.

An explosion tore through a residential building near central Istanbul's Taksim Square on Monday, injuring several people, Turkish media outlets reported.

Television footage showed windows blown out of several multi-storey buildings on the narrow side street.

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear, but some media reports said it was believed to have been caused by a natural gas leak.

"The incident occurred most likely following a gas leak or gas cylinder blast," governor of Istanbul Hussein Avni Mutlu said.

Firefighters and ambulances have been dispatched to the area.

Police have cordoned off the area and an investigation is underway.