Gas Explosion Injures 37 in Central Paris

At least 37 persons sustained injuries in a fiery gas explosion that took place in Central Paris following which hundreds of firefighters were deployed to the site to control the situation, reports emerged on Thursday.

According to reports, the explosion took place in a building that housed a design school and the Catholic education system headquarters in Rue-Saint-Jacques, in the fifth arrondissement of the French capital.

As many as 270 firefighters were deployed at the site to douse the flames.

In the explosion, 37 people sustained injuries of which four were admitted to a hospital in critical condition while two are feared to be missing in the rubble.

The French Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin was quoted by CNN saying, “It’s possible that we will find dead bodies tonight, or we will find them alive. Investigators still don’t know how the gas explosion occurred. There was no alarm sent out before the incident.”

The cause of the gas explosion is yet to be determined by the investigators.

So far, no casualties have been reported as a result of the explosion in Central Paris.

Last year in December, three persons were killed and four others sustained injuries after a shooting in central Paris.

In connection to the incident, a man in his 60s was apprehended. He was the gunman who opened fire on a street in the 10th arrondissement of the French capital.

"An investigation has been opened into the counts of murder, intentional homicide and aggravated violence," the Paris prosecutor's office told French broadcaster BFMTV.

"A 69-year-old man was arrested and taken into custody," said the prosecution.

Paris police cordoned off the area and said that an intervention was underway in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. The police also appealed people to stay away from the area.

"Paris10 rue d'Enghien, police intervention in progress. A person arrested. Avoid the area and let the emergency services intervene," Paris Police Prefecture tweeted.

Also Read: 3 Dead, 4 Injured After Gunman Opens Fire in Central Paris