Italian actor Gabriel Garko was injured this morning when there was an explosion in a villa in which he was staying in Sanremo, Italian media report.

Garko is in Sanremo to prepare for his participation in the Italian Song Festival that will be held at the Ariston Theatre next week.

An elderly woman was killed as part of the building collapsed on her.

Garko was slightly injured in the blast, which took place at 8.30am. It is believed that the explosion occurred after a gas leak.