At least 25 reportedly injured in New York blast

Onlookers stand behind a police cordon near the site of an explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York, US, September 17, 2016. Photo by Ji Tao/chinadaily.com.cn

* An explosion rocked the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan on Saturday.

* The blast caused 29 injuries, none life-threatening.

* The cause of the blast is under investigation.

* The blast occurred at about 8:30 pm (0030 GMT Sunday) between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue on 23rd Street.

* Emergency personnel swarmed one of the most bustling areas of the city.

* Hundreds of people were seen fleeing down the block.

12:02

New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio said that there is "no evidence at this point of a terror connection".

The mayor said the real cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

11:35

The explosion appears to have been an "intentional act," but there is no "evidence at this point of a terror connection," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference.

11:30

The blast caused 29 injuries with none of them life threatening, the city's Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said at a news conference.

11:16

New York City Mayor, fire and police departments to hold news conference around 11 pm, Police Department spokesman said on Twitter.

11:13

US President Barack Obama, who was attending a congressional dinner in Washington, "has been apprised of the explosion in New York City, the cause of which remains under investigation," a White House official said. "The president will be updated as additional information becomes available," the official added.

11:05

The alert about an explosive device with multiple injuries reported by the New York City Fire Department is wrong and withdrawn. The department did not issue such a statement. It said later that it was investigating an explosion, not an explosive device.

Onlookers stand behind a police cordon near the site of an explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York, US, September 17, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

10:57

New York City Police issued a bulletin advising motorists in the area that they should "expect extensive traffic delays and emergency personnel in the area of 23rd Street and 7th Avenue" due to police activity there and asking the public to avoid the area.

10:56

"It was really loud, it hurt my eardrums. My 10-year-old boy was sat in the back seat of the car, and the explosion blew the back window out," said Tsi Tsi Mallett, who was in a car driving along 23rd Street when the explosion took place. Her son was not injured.

10:45

Law enforcement authorities considering possibility New York explosion was accidentally caused by construction explosives.