This is the moment New York cops rescue a woman from behind a sofa in a burning home after a gas explosion rocked the neighbourhood.

The explosion, apparently caused by a gas leak, took place in a detached home in the New York borough of The Bronx on 18th January.

NYPD NEWS shared the video on Twitter on 18th January with the message: “When @NYPD41pct officers arrived at the massive explosion at a Bronx home, they saw flames spreading to the adjoining home rocked by the explosion.

“Knowing there was a person inside, they ran in. They found a woman trapped in the debris. Our prayers are with those affected.”

According to local reports, three women were in the home at the time of the explosion and two women aged 82 and 68 are being treated at Jacobi Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

A 77-year-old woman, identified as Martha Dagbasta, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The blast blew a huge hole in the front of the property, causing the building to later collapse and flames to spread to an adjoining home.

Neighbours heard a woman screaming inside and officers rushed in to help evacuate her from the building.

Mayor Eric Adams said: “When you see the body camera video, you are going to see the quick response of the officers, going into a burning building, next door from the explosion, not realising if there would have been an additional explosion. They went inside and carried out a woman who was trapped inside.”

Five police officers sustained minor injuries in the incident.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

At the moment, the police do not suspect foul play as local residents said they could smell gas before the explosion happened.