At least 37 people have been injured, four critically, after a gas explosion sparked a blaze in several buildings in the Latin Quarter of Paris. The blast occurred at about 5pm on Wednesday in the fifth arrondissement, causing multiple structures to catch fire.
Police urged people to avoid the Val-de-Grâce area, near the Panthéon and Luxembourg Gardens, after a building facade collapsed and flames spread to neighbouring properties. Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez confirmed the explosion happened at 277 Rue Saint-Jacques, a building housing the Paris American Academy, a bilingual school of fashion and design.
Witnesses described a powerful blast followed by a smaller one. One local man told France Info: “It was shocking. It’s a disaster.” Pharmacist Alexandra said: “We heard an incredible, very loud explosion at around 5pm, we felt the force of it. It’s atrocious.”
Some 70 fire trucks and 270 firefighters battled the blaze, which was brought under control by about 6.45pm. Rescue workers continued searching the debris. The Paris prosecutor opened an investigation into aggravated involuntary injury, examining whether a safety rule violation caused the explosion.
Art historian Monique Mosser, who was at home writing when the blast occurred, said: “I thought it was a bomb. A neighbour knocked on the door and told me to evacuate. I grabbed my laptop and phone, I didn’t even think to get my medication.” Student Alexis, 23, heard “a huge bang” and his windows blew out, adding: “We didn’t know if it was a terrorist attack.”
