A series of explosions rocked Equatorial Guinea's commercial hub, Bata, on Sunday, leaving the city covered in a huge plume of smoke.

BBC cites state television to report that there have been fatalities and significant damage, and health workers have been asked to report to the city's hospitals.

The cause of the explosions was still unclear at the time of publication, but some reports indicate that they came from an area near a military base.

Amateur video footage posted on social media show residents fleeing as smoke rises into the air behind them.

France's Ambassador o Equatorial Guinea Brochenin Olivier posted a message of condolence on Twitter, describing the incident as a "catastrophe."

(With input from agencies)