A massive explosion has occurred in a building in central Paris. Many were injured, some seriously. Fire officials urged residents to avoid the area in the Fifth District.
At least 16 people were injured in the blast in central Paris, seven of them critically, according to police.
The explosion near Dom Val-de-Grâce in the fifth arrondissement was caused by a gas leak, district mayor Florence Berthout told the AFP news agency. A fashion design school was functioning in the dilapidated building. The Inspector General of Police said that although the fire has been brought under control, it has not yet been extinguished.
Smoke rises from Val-de-Grace Cathedral in Paris.
A large group of fire brigades
Firefighters called on people to stay away from the scene of the fire near the Jardin du Luxembourg to allow rescuers to intervene quickly. According to police, several buildings were evacuated. Video footage from “Le Parisien” newspaper shows the building collapsing and burning.
The city of Paris was abuzz with people on Wednesday night as the city-wide ‘Fête de la musique’ held its music festival on June 21, with numerous concerts. According to the AFP news agency, the public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into negligent bodily injury.
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