One critically injured in an explosion in New York's Central Park

NEW YORK: A man was severely injured in an apparent blast today in the city's popular tourist destination the Central Park, with authorities investigating the incident, according to a US media report.

A blast in the New York Central Park severed the foot of a young man, who was not identified, a report in the New York Daily News said.

The New York Police Department's bomb squad was investigating the area of the park where the incident occurred.

The report cited witnesses as saying that the victim stepped on a device or fireworks, causing the blast.

His foot was "all but gone," another witness said.

A friend of the victim's said there was a "small explosion and then dust", adding that they could not determine what caused the blast.

Police said they were responding to an "amputation incident" and the victim was rushed to a local hospital.

Witness John Murphy, 53, said he tried to keep the young man conscious following the explosion.

"I saw his friends standing there panicking. I saw the young man laying on the grass. His foot was all but gone. His friends claimed he was walking down the rocks and he stepped on it. It looks like there was an explosion," Murphy said in the report.

He said the blast was caused by an "explosive of some sort" and that there was no metal.

The incident occurred just a day ahead of the American Independence Day holiday on July 4, a time when the city is inundated with tourists from all over the world.

Various firework displays are planned across the city as well as the country to commemorate the holiday.