At least seven people have been reported dead in a gun attack in Ivory Coast, West Africa, according to witnesses.

The shooting took place at a beach resort which is popular with tourists.

The hotel is located in Grand Bassam which is around 25 miles east of Abidjan.

According to reports, at least ten gunmen opened fire in the hotel the moment they entered.

Diplomatic reports stated that several people have been wounded in the gunfire.

Grand Bassam, about 40 km east of the commercial capital Abidjan, is a weekend retreat for Abidjan residents and its beaches, bars and hotels are also popular with Westerners.

A Reuters witness saw two wounded people and video taken by a witness showed seven people lying on the ground following the attack. It was not clear if anyone was killed.

Security forces were called to the scene.

The gunmen were not identified and it was unclear if they were affiliated with any militant group.

The incident took place nearly two months after Islamist fighters killed dozens of people in a hotel and cafe frequented by foreigners in neighbouring Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou, raising concern that the reach of militancy in West Africa was spreading.

With Reuters inputs