One dead after gas explosion and fires at top of New York City apartment building

A gas explosion sent fire racing through a high-rise apartment building in New York City, killing one person and injuring 14 others.

The blaze engulfed parts of the top floors of the 17-storey building in the Bronx, and people were seen leaning out of windows calling for help, authorities said.

Around a dozen apartments have sustained major damage, Chief of Department John Esposito said, adding that firefighters were investigating reports of a gas smell on the 15th and 16th floors when the explosion went off.

It came as temperatures in the city plunged below -10C overnight.

Officials said the building had been undergoing renovations and work on the natural gas system had been completed and inspected. The cause of the explosion was under investigation.

"It's an incredible tragedy. We're sending all our thoughts to the families involved," Leila Bozorg, deputy mayor for housing and planning said.

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The fire started in the early hours of Saturday morning and more than 200 fire and emergency personnel were working at the scene.

"There were injuries. It was a very, very difficult night on a very cold night, which caused even more difficulty," Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said.

Authorities did not immediately release information on the person who died in the blaze.

Around half a million New Yorkers live in aging buildings run by the city's housing authority, known as NYCHA, which is the largest in the nation.