At least 16 people were injured in a gas explosion in a bar in the US state of Massachusetts, a media report said on Saturday.

The blast ripped apart the bar on Friday evening in Springfield city, the Xinhua reported. The injured included a police officer and two firefighters.

The report said the explosion sent a huge cloud of smoke into the air, and people standing nearby were knocked to their feet. A loud boom was heard and felt miles away. At least 16 people were injured, the report added.

A bar named SCORES was destroyed in the explosion. A total of two buildings were destroyed. Fire tenders and ambulances have been rushed to the area.