One person has died and multiple injures have been reported after a Hard Rock hotel collapsed in downtown New Orleans.

Shocking footage shows pedestrians scrambling for cover as the the top floors fell to the ground in a giant cloud of dust.

The incident happened on Canal Street, a major thoroughfare through the centre of New Orleans, on Saturday morning.

First responders from the fire and police departments are at the scene with at least 18 victims taken to hospital.

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New Orleans Fire Department spokesperson Tim McConnell said the structure of the upper building remains very unstable.

At least one person is dead and several people are unaccounted for, according to Louisiana State Governor John Bel Edwards.

Authorities confirmed there were multiple casualties but have not yet said if there are any deaths, reports nola.com.

The city's emergency response authority urged locals to stay away from the area,

It tweeted: "This is an active scene. Please avoid the area & listen to public safety officials. "

Around 45 people were working on the site, according to reports.

"It was a deep, rumbling sound, like an airplane maybe. It drew my head immediately", one eyewitness said.

"It looked like the concrete just slid from the top all the way down to the street.

He also recounted how one bystander narrowly escaped death.

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