At least 18 people have been injured in an explosion ripped through a passenger ferry in Mexico.

Horrific images showed bloodied people being treated on a dock in Playa del Carmen, a city popular with tourists.

The blast left one side of the ferry, which belongs to the Barcos Caribe company, completely destroyed.

Mike Ojile tweeted that he'd heard a "loud boom" and seen emergency services going to the scene.

Witness Bill Albany added: "Got off another ferry. Couldn't see the explosion as I was on our boat but I saw stuff fall into the sea.

"People covered in blood on the pier."

The exact cause of the explosion, described as a "strong blast" by eyewitnesses, is not yet known but government officials later blamed a technical malfunction.

The dock was packed with tourists getting on and leaving the boat at the time.

Police, fire and medical services rushed to the scene and brought 18 people to hospital including 15 Mexicans and three Canadians.

(Image: @yeceniaglez/Twitter)

(Image: @yeceniaglez/Twitter)

It is believed there are children among the injured.

None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

All ferries in and out of the port were suspended.

The ferry travels the route to and from Cozumel, an island popular for day trips.

The blast happened minutes after the ferry had just returned to the mainland at around 1pm local time on Wednesday.

(Image: Facebook)

(Image: Facebook)

A shocking video later surfaced online which appeared to show the moment of the explosion.

It shows dozens of people milling about on the pier before a sudden blast appears to come from the middle of the white Barcos Caribe vessel.

Barcos Caribe is owned by Roberto Borge Angulo, the former Governor of the state of Quintana Roo where Playa del Carmen is one of a number of Caribbean resort towns.

After he left office, Roberto Borge was declared a criminal for allegedly embezzling public funds and went on the run.

He was arrested last June in Panama as he was about to board a flight to Paris.