At least two people have died after a fuel truck blast next to a maternity and children's hospital in Mexico City.

Dozens more have been injured, mayor Miguel Angel Mancera told local TV.

The blast occured outside the maternity and children's hospital in Cuajimalpa region, with many of them hit by flying glass.

None of the injuries were serious, the mayor said as he went on to say patients were being moved to other hospitals for their own safety.

"We have to conduct an evacuation for safety because a lot of the people are babies in the crib area," he said.

A column of smoke billowed over the area in the west of the city as firefighters tried to extinguish the flames.

Much of the building was left in ruins with the heaviest damage was near the hospital's loading dock, according to the mayor.

Mexico has been hit by other gas explosion tragedies in recent years.

Twenty-five people died in May 2013 when a gas tanker's container came loose on a motorway north of Mexico City, setting nearby homes and cars on fire.

Three people died last year in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas when a gas leak caused an explosion in a shopping centre.

Originally published: 16:17

This story originally stated that seven people had died in the attack. As of time of republishing the total confirmed is two deaths.