BEIRUT - Police in Lebanon say a bomb exploded at a mountain resort today, wounding at least five people.

The blast rocked the Druse town of Aley around 9 p.m. and was heard as far as Beirut's Mediterranean coastline about 20 kilometres to the west.

Police say the bomb was hidden in a bag and placed at the entrance of a building in a narrow street about 200 metres from the main government building in town.

Ambulances and police rushed to the area minutes after the blast, which had also caused considerable material damage.

The explosion sheared off walls of apartments, tore down electrical cables and wrecked parked vehicles.

It also blew off shutters on the many shops in the street.