A WOMAN has died and 15 others have been wounded after an explosion ripped through a block of flats near Barcelona.

Shocking images of the burning building emerged after the blast at 8.30am today in Premia de Mar north east of the Catalan capital.

5 One person has died following an explosion in a second floor flat outside Barcelona Credit: Twitter / @jordi_bravo

5 Flames could be seen erupting from block of flats after the blast Credit: Twitter / @ConteDavid

Explosion in Premia de Mar, Barcelona, Spanish media reported several wounded pic.twitter.com/VWs5Xi5DTf https://t.co/5gvKamKzmc — Ann-Mari Maukonen 🇫🇮 (@annmarimaukonen) September 18, 2016

Officials have said that one person, believed to be a middle-aged woman, was killed in the blast and 15 injured.

Two of the injured are believed to be in a serious condition.

The explosion happened in a second floor flat of a seven storey block in the coastal resort.

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Residents awoken by the blast fled from the scene with one person spotted dangling naked from a window in a desperate bid to reach safety.

The explosion ignited a fire, which has now been put out by emergency services.

Officials evacuated the building and neighbouring blocks.

5 Emergency services treat the injured close to the site of the blast, just outside of Barcelona Credit: Twitter / @ConteDavid

5 The explosion ripped through a second floor flat just outside Barcelona Credit: Getty Images

5 Residents were seen fleeing from the blast in the early hours of this morning Credit: Twitter / @jordi_bravo

At least 1 dead and 15 injured after explosion in Spanish seaside resort #Barcelona pic.twitter.com/x6jvdvKwYs — Bero (@followbero) September 18, 2016

Local Saturnino Martin said: “It was like something out of a film, a huge noise and then a shower of glass.”

The cause of the explosion has not been revealed although gas technicians have visited the site.

The woman who died is believed to have lived in the second floor flat where the explosion occurred.

Those evacuated have been taken to a nearby sports centre.

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