At least 5 dead in Rio gas explosion

Rio de Janeiro city mayor Eduardo Paes has blamed local gas company Ceg for an explosion at a housing complex that killed at least five people and left many others injured on Tuesday.

The incident occurred about 5am local time in one of 86 residential buildings at the Fazenda Botafogo complex in Rio's north.

Firefighters and civil defence officials said the incident could have been caused by a gas pipe leak.

"This is not the direct responsibility of the mayor's office. We are not a regulatory agency, but we are going to put pressure on the gas company," Paes told a news conference.

"There is not much we can do. We're going to put pressure on the state [government], the regulator and public prosecutors to act firmly."

Ceg did not immediately comment on the incident.

A subsidiary of Spanish group Gas Natural Fenosa, Ceg distributes gas to residential, commercial and industrial consumers in 19 municipalities in Rio de Janeiro state. The company also has contracts to supply several thermoelectric power generators.