A gas explosion occurred in a five-storey apartment building near Moscow on Saturday, destroying part of the building, according to Russian media.

A source told the Russian "Interfax" news agency that a section of the stone building had collapsed in the town of Orykhovo Zuyevo.

"The people were at home," the agency quoted the source as saying.

According to preliminary information, it is possible that there will be victims, according to the source.

The explosion came in light of the quarantine imposed by the authorities on the population to contain the outbreak of the new Corona virus.