One person was missing after a building belonging to a church collapsed in a central Madrid explosion, according to a report on Wednesday.

“The priests who live on the fifth and sixth floors are fine. We are trying to locate a volunteer who works with us,” the vicar general said.

It was reported that several people were injured.

Emergency services could not immediately confirm if there had been injuries.

The collapsed building was a religious complex that provided residential training for priests and gave meals for the homeless, a neighbour said.

A police spokeswoman said the area was being evacuated but could not confirm the source of the explosion.

The explosion happened in Toledo street, in the city centre.