At least four people were killed and 14 others injured after an explosion ripped through a building in South China's Guangzhou City around noon Tuesday, local police said.

The blast occurred at 11:50 am in a roadside storehouse in the Ezhangtan area of Baiyun district.

Rescuers have found the remains of four bodies at the scene. Fourteen others were taken to hospital.

Windows of a nearby shopping mall were smashed in the blast.

Heavy smoke could still be seen coming from the site two hours after the explosion with fire fighters struggling to put out the blaze.

"I was collecting garbage with others when I heard a bang. I was shocked and felt dizzy," said a female urban cleaning worker, who is being treated in No.1 People's Hospital in Guangzhou.

Liang, who was unhurt, said the ceilings and windows of the building where he worked were damaged. "We thought it was an earthquake and ran outside."

The exact number of casualties and the cause of the blast remain unclear.