A four-storey building was rocked by an explosion and collapsed, killing a child, in a northeastern suburb of Paris on Sunday morning, French authorities said.

Ten people, including four seriously wounded, were evacuated from the rubble of the building, and a child was killed, fire department spokesman Gabriel Plus told iTele. The explosion occurred around 7 am local time (0500 GMT).

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, who arrived on-site, said it appeared the explosion occurred because of a gas leak, but said he could not confirm that theory.

"We should be prudent, because there are investigations on-going. There is no certainty," he told reporters.

About another ten people could still be underneath the rubble, and an emergency rescue procedure was ongoing, Plus said.

"We could still find living victims in the hours to come."

Television images of the building in the suburb of Rosny-Sous-Bois showed one side ripped off completely, exposing the interiors of the apartments inside. - Reuters