UPDATE: Explosion rocks central Oslo, hundreds feared dead

A massive explosion rocked central Oslo on Friday, killing at least one person, injuring dozens of people and severely damaging government buildings including the Prime Minister’s office.

The blast, which occurred about 3.30pm local time on Friday, left at least a dozen people injured amid fears “hundreds” had died.

There were, however, no immediate reports of casualties from the blast, which occurred at the government headquarters which house the offices of Jens Stoltenberg.

It remains unclear what caused the blast or if it was a terrorism attack. The Prime Minister was reported to be safe.

The cause of the blast was unknown but the tangled wreckage of a car was outside one building.

The damage appeared consistent with that from car bombs. Police and fire officials declined to comment on the cause.

Injured people were seen lying on the street in pools of blood. Heavy debris littered the streets and smoke rose over the city centre.

The 17-storey building, which also houses Norway’s biggest tabloid newspaper VG, was reported to be on fire, with thick black smoke being seen for miles.

Witnesses reported the massive blast blew out most windows in the building as well as nearby government departments including the oil ministry, in Norway’s capital and most populated city.

The bottom floor appeared to be completely gutted

“I’m still in my work office and people here seem pretty freaked out and are ringing around friends and relatives like mad,” Ruarí Ødegaard, an exatriate Briton living in Oslo told The Daily Telegraph. (Pic courtesy AtlanticWire)