A gas explosion has occurred in the fifth arrondissement of Paris, resulting in several buildings catching fire, local officials said on Wednesday. Police told people to avoid the Val de Grâce area after the facade of a building collapsed and the fire appeared to have spread to neighbouring buildings. Just after 5pm local time, local people described one big explosion and a smaller one. One man told France Info public radio: “It was shocking. It’s a disaster.” The Associated Press has the story:
Gas Explosion starts fire in Central Paris
Newslookks- PARIS (AP)
A gas explosion started a blaze in buildings in the Latin Quarter of central Paris, officials and witnesses said. Paris firefighters battle blaze sending smoke soaring over Left Bank after reported explosion.
BFM TV showed fire services sealing off the hire and trying to hose down a building, and Parisians posted images on Twitter of a huge plume of smoke that was visible across much of the city. Journalist Olivier Galzi told BFM TV that he had seen the facade of a nearby building “completely collapse.”
Police urged people to avoid the area.
The facade of a building in the 5th arrondissement, or district, collapsed and emergency services were working to determine if anyone was still inside, a Paris police official said.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the fire was locted on Rue Saint-Jacques in the 5th arrondissement close to the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Sorbonne University.
“This is chaos,” said Christopher Gaglione, who said he witnessed the scene.
Florence Berthout, mayor of the arrondissement, said four people were in “absolute emergency” condition.
“The explosion was extremely violent,” she said, describing pieces of glass still falling from buildings.
The neighborhood was cordoned off and scores of emergency workers filled the area.
Police, fire services and ambulance services rushed to the scene.
The Paris prosecutor said one person had suffered burns and it was not possible at this stage to determine the cause of the fire.
BFMTV and Le Figaro reported police sources saying that at least four people were in a critical condition.
Firefighters fought a blaze on Paris’ Left Bank that is sent smoke soaring over the domed Pantheon monument and prompted evacuation of buildings in the neighborhood, police said.
Local media cited witnesses describing a large explosion preceding the fire, and saying that part of a building collapsed.
Paris police spokeswoman Loubna Atta said it was too early to determine the source of the fire and could not confirm reports it was a caused by a gas explosion.
