A warehouse located in the largest city of Burma has exploded. The incident has resulted death to no less than 17 people and injuries to over 100.

Officials reported that firefighters were trying to put out the blazing fire in the Rangoon warehouse district before sunrise Thursday when a huge explosion happened. Inconsistent reports stated that the establishment was storing chemicals, medical equipment, and gunpowder.

The home ministry reported that six of the dead were firefighters but did not release their names.

Around 16 warehouses were destroyed by the blast including a Buddhist monastery and some houses in Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township in eastern Yangon (Rangoon).

AFP, the French news agency, reported that an official said investigators had forgotten about the probability that the blow up was due to a bomb.

Authorities explained that the fire spread rapidly to numerous buildings in the firmly packed warehouse district. It ruined approximately 50 houses, leaving numerous people homeless.

The Yangon General Hospital handled 108 injured people from the explosion. A lot of those individuals injured and killed were firefighters. A senior nurse reported the number of patients brought from the incident; however, she declined to be identified as she was not allowed to speak to the media.

The blast created a hollow with an estimate of 4 meters deep and 6 meters wide. Black smoke was witnessed fluttering from the wreckage Thursday early morning.

Firefighters were searching for dead bodies from among the rubble.

It wasn't clear yet what had triggered the fire. The home ministry official stated that the explosion was caused by potassium nitrate, ammonia, and other chemicals stored in one of the affected warehouses.

According to the residents, the fire started in one of the warehouses that kept electronic items then extended to neighboring warehouse and properties.