A huge explosion has hit the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Reports say the explosion happened in an area close to foreign embassies and the presidential palace.

It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties, but reports say houses hundreds of metres away were damaged by the force of the explosion.

Images circulating on social media appeared to show a large cloud of black smoke over the city.

There have been sporadic deadly attacks on Kabul in recent months, all of which have highlighted the worsening security situation across Afghanistan.

Earlier this month at least eight civilians were killed in a suicide bomb attack on a Nato convoy as it was passing the US embassy.