Four people were reportedly injured in the blast, and a local kindergarten was evacuated as a precaution.
An explosion in the centre of Milan has left several vehicles engulfed in flames.
Video from the scene showed cars and motorbikes on fire in a street between two buildings, one of which is a pharmacy, with thick black smoke billowing from the blast.
Italian media reports that the explosion happened after a van carrying oxygen cylindars caught fire.
Euronews journalist Alessio Dell’Anna in Milan says four people were reportedly injured in the blast which happened in the northern city’s Porta Romana neighbourhood.
He says the area has been cordoned off and a nearby kindergarten was evacuated.
ANSA news agency says that according to initial information from the fire brigade and police, a technical problem with the van may have caused the blast.
This is a breaking news story and our journalists will update with more information.