Six people have been killed in a stampede that broke out inside an Italian nightclub, local media reported.

The stampede early on Saturday may have been triggered by tear gas being sprayed inside the Lanterna Azzurra (Blue Lantern) nightclub near the city of Ancona on Italy’s Adriatic coast, the Corriere Della Sera newspaper reported, reports 9news.com.au.

A further 100 people were injured, including around 10 seriously, the paper reported, citing local rescue authorities.

Around 1000 people were reportedly inside the nightclub in the town of Madonna del Piano for a rap concert at the time of the incident.

#Corinaldo (AN) #8dic 1:00, squadre #vigilidelfuoco impegnate nel soccorso in una discoteca. Forse per la dispersione di una sostanza urticante, ragazzi fuggono per il panico calpestandosi. Sei purtroppo quelli deceduti, decine feriti pic.twitter.com/NvII0jD7oe

— Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) December 8, 2018