KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A popular restaurant in an entertainment district here became engulfed in towering flames on Tuesday evening after a gas main exploded, rattling the earth, leaving shards of glass and brick strewn about and injuring more than a dozen people, some severely.

There were no initial reports of deaths, said Rhonda Flores, a spokeswoman for the Police Department. Late Tuesday, firefighters were searching through the rubble with dogs for any signs of people trapped inside the restaurant, named JJ’s.

Missouri Gas Energy, the gas company for the area, said in a statement on Tuesday night that “early indications are that a contractor doing underground work struck a natural gas line, but the investigation continues.” The company has shut off gas to the area, the statement said.

Many people in surrounding buildings had complained of a strong smell of gas during the day. Because of the odor, JJ’s was not operating its kitchen at the time of the blast, KSHB-TV reported. Soon after inspectors from the gas company told people at the restaurant to leave, the building exploded, the station reported. It was shortly after 6 p.m., Ms. Flores said.