The bodies of two victims have been recovered from the rubble of houses in Antwerp after an explosion ripped through them.

Fifteen people were also injured in the explosion, which hit three adjacent properties, including seven rescued from under the rubble.

Rescue workers found the two bodies on Tuesday morning and three people were removed alive from the rubble, including a child.

Antwerp police had quickly announced that the blast was not part of a terror attack.

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An aerial view of the scene shows the destruction caused by the explosion

Firefighters on a platform look through the roof into part of a blast damaged building

A suspected gas leaked is thought to be behind the explosion, which happened in the Paardenmarkt area of Antwerp

The entire front of a four storey block of flats had its front blown off by the explosion

Two bodies have now been recovered from the rubble of the three properties hit by the blast

Rescuers are still going through the debris searching for victims of Monday night's suspected gas explosion

The authorities in Belgium have stressed the explosion is not terror related

The explosion ripped through the homes late in the evening in the Belgian port city

'Police confirm two more victims found under the rubble, both deceased. The victims have not yet been identified,' Antwerp police said on Twitter

'Research into the cause of the explosion at Paardenmarkt continues.'

Belgium's French-language broadcaster RTBF reported that a gas leak was suspected as the cause of the blast at around 9:30pm local time though it had yet to be confirmed.

At least one building totally collapsed as a result of the blast. Rescue workers were still going through the debris early Tuesday, although they had no indication that there were more victims.

Investigations into the cause of the blast would only start after the search was completed, authorities said.

Pictures from the scene show a four-storey apartment block with its front entirely blown off.

A huge crane and dozens of firefighters are on the scene in the Paardenmarkt area of the city, with some survivors pictured being dramatically pulled from the debris.

But police have stressed the incident is not related to terrorism.

Firefighters rescue a man following the collapse of a building at the Paardenmarkt in Antwerp

At least five people have been hurt in the explosion, with gas put forward as the likely cause

A huge crane and dozens of emergency services personnel are already on the scene

Several people have been hurt after an explosion brought down a residential building in the Belgium city of Antwerp. Pictured: The scene tonight

Belgium has been on high alert since deadly suicide bombings in 2016 and a wave of Islamist attacks across Europe. Pictured left: The scene tonight. Right: The building before the explosion

Antwerp police said in a statement that most of the injuries were slight. Authorities rescued seven people from under the rubble.

Antwerp police spokesman Wouter Bruyns told VRT network: 'There are about 10, a maximum 20 casualties, fortunately including many slightly injured.'

The homes destroyed are believed to belong to students.

Old photographs of the building that was destroyed show that a pizzeria was on the bottom floor.

Video from the scene shows the desperate struggle ongoing to find any survivors.

Antwerp police quickly announced that the blast was not part of a terror attack.

Belgium has been on high alert since deadly suicide bombings in 2016 and a wave of Islamist attacks across Europe.

Belgian news agency Belga reported five people had been injured in the 9.30pm blast

VTM Nieuws reported that people have been heard shouting for help from under the debris

Antwerp police said two adjacent buildings might have also been damaged in what state broadcaster RTBF said was a gas explosion