TAIPEI, Aug. 1  -- Several people were killed and more than 100 others injured as suspected gas leakage caused blasts that ripped through several streets in Kaohsiung city of China's Taiwan on Thursday, media reports said.

The number of casualties may keep increasing, and many injured people have been sent to hospital.

According to a witness, at about 9 p.m. local time on Thursday, gas smell was sensed and local firefighters went to investigate the situation. At about 11:55 p.m., explosion occurred for several times.

The explosions blew open the whole Sanduo Road and Kaisyuan Road, causing big fires. Cars were overturned.

Police have corded off blocks of street to allow checking of the leakage point. Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chu urged people to leave the dangerous spots.

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou has urged relevant authorities to help the rescue, according to his office spokeswoman Ma Wei-kuo.

As of 1:40 a.m. on Friday, the fires remained uncontained.