The explosion ripped through Taiwan's southern city of Kaohsiung in the early hours of Friday morning.<br/> <br />Plumes of smoke billowed across the horizon.<br/> <br />Residents told local television that some smoke with a "gas-like smell" came out of the drains shortly before the blast.<br/> <br />The explosion was so powerful it ripped open roads, overturned cars and sent flames flying dozens of metres into the air.<br/> <br />Several people were killed.<br/> <br />The Kaohsiung fire department said it was caused by a gas leak.<br/> <br />Some residents compared the force of the explosion to an earthquake.<br/> <br />Rescuers formed a chain to pull dozens of injured from a vast crater in the street.<br/> <br />Hundreds of those injured by the blast were taken to hospital for treatment.<br/> <br />Daylight revealed the true extent of the devastation.<br/> <br />The damage to buildings and roads made rescue efforts difficult for firefighters, searching for people beneath the rubble.<br/> <br />Police have been deployed to reinforce emerg
