Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: CEN

Video Credit: CEN

This is the moment a hotel explodes just as a hapless pedestrian walks past the entrance in a gas leak blast that injured seven.

The shocking incident took place at the La Tropa on Coahuila Avenue in the city of Tijuana, in the northwestern Mexican state of Baja California and was captured on CCTV cameras.

In the video, a man can be seen slowly walking down the street when he reaches the entrance to the hotel.

Pictures Credit: CEN

At that moment a huge explosion erupts from the building, sending a blast of smoke and debris flying out into the road.

Drivers then reverse away from the scene in fear and people can be seen sprinting out of the hotel.

Some onlookers walk over to help the victims as more people leave the building and local media report seven employees of the hotel were injured.

Three of them were seriously injured in the blast which initial reports suggest was caused by a gas leak.

Jose Luis Jimenez, the director of the firefighters of the city, confirmed that the cause of the explosion was a problem caused by the underground gas lines.

According to local media, local residents had previously complained about a strong smell of gas in the area but the authorities had done nothing about it.

Jimenez said: “The gas company were working in the area, they were monitoring the place, so far none of the lines were depressurised in order to find out if there was a problem or if it was caused by methane gas.”

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.