One person dies in South L.A. explosion, official says

One person died and at least three others were injured in an explosion Wednesday evening in the Historic South-Central district of Los Angeles.

The explosion tore through a small market at 2528 South Grand Avenue, according to neighbors. The blast left at least one person dead, a law enforcement official told The Times. 

Earlier, the Los Angeles Fire Department had reported that four people were injured, two of them critically. 

Rescuers carried out victims covered in blood with severed limbs, neighbors at the scene said.

Wednesday night, a van from the coroner's office was at the scene. Two of the victims were men and two were women, according to the LAFD. Two of the victims were in fair condition.

The cause of the explosion was under investigation. The LAFD said arson investigators were examining what appeared to be a gas cylinder at the rear of the building.

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-- Jessica Garrison in South L.A. and Andrew Blankstein and Robert J. Lopez

Map shows area where explosion was reported. Credit: Times' Mapping L.A.