Up to nine people were hospitalized and three were in critical condition when an apparent gas explosion partially collapsed a Chinatown building Thursday, officials said.

Sources say the explosion blasted a first floor apartment inside the five-story Pike St. building near Henry St. at about 12:45 p.m. Seconds later, the first floor ceiling collapsed. A stash of bug bombs caught on fire and exploded in the basement of the Chinatown building, NBC 4 New York reported.

The Red Cross released via Twitter a photo of the reception center they set up for residents displaced by the explosion. Fox News released an image of the partial building collapse from helicopter views. New York Daily News has a photo of firefighters pulling out a local man from inside the building.

A building explosion resulted in a fire and partial building collapse in Chinatown shortly before 1 p.m. The explosion took place at 17 Pike Street in Chinatown. Conflicting reports state different numbers of injured people. Village Voice noted nine people, including two firefighters, were injured in the collapse and later taken to Beth Israel Hospital on E 17 St.

Crews are working to stabilize the building that collapsed, according to the news station. After the explosion, a small wall collapsed and there was a flash fire. Firefighters arrived at the scene within minutes and several people were rescued. The most seriously injured people were on the upper floors of the building.

An NBC photo shows smoke comes out of the building after the collapse.