The newborn baby was one of two children killed during the incident. A search continues for at least two people who are missing, officials have said.

The French interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, travelled to the scene and said around 30 people had been wounded or suffered psychological trauma from the incident.

He wrote on Twitter that he gave his "full support" to the emergency services, adding: "Thoughts to the victims and their loved ones."

The Pyrenees-Orientales fire and rescue department said the explosion took place in the heart of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque at around 1.30am.

Local radio France Bleu Roussillon reported that the explosion occurred on the ground floor of a two-story building, which was a grocery-sandwich bar.

The fire then spread to neighbouring buildings.

Perpignan prosecutor Jean-David Cavaille said it's too early to know what caused the explosion but he mentioned the possibility that gas cylinders may have been present in the shop. An investigation is underway into the cause.

Images shared by the fire department online show the charred remains of an apartment block, with debris spilling out onto the street.

Medical teams were also on the scene as more than 85 firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control.

Minister Olivier Dusspot travelled to the scene and echoed Mr Darmanin's tribute.

"Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. The state is on their side," he said.