At least 16 people were injured in the explosion
Firemen work to extinguish a blaze following a suspected gas explosion in Paris, France, June 21, 2023 © AP / Christophe Ena
A powerful explosion blew out the facades of buildings in Paris on Wednesday, causing multiple casualties. Local officials say the blast was caused by a gas leak.
Video footage shows the street-facing side of the Paris American Academy – a leading fashion design school – collapsed and on fire. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the explosion originated within the academy building.
The blast ripped through a street in Paris’ upscale 5th Arrondissement, leaving the road strewn with rubble. Flames poured from broken windows and a column of black smoke could be seen from several kilometers away.
In a post on Twitter, local counsellor Edouard Civel said that a “gas explosion” had occurred, and called on the public to avoid the area while firefighters worked to extinguish the resulting blaze.
At least seven people were critically hurt and nine others suffered more minor injuries, France’s BFMTV broadcaster reported. The network noted that these figures were based on “a very provisional assessment” of the situation.
Une énorme #explosion à #Paris ! Tout un quartier ravagé. Vidéo envoyé par une amie. pic.twitter.com/7nA9T6qCwL
— Mat (@Namat_12) June 21, 2023
From 14ar#paris#explosionpic.twitter.com/HZ2iXZ8dCe
— Aleksandr Konkov (@alexedinica) June 21, 2023
One witness who manages a restaurant near the blast site told BFMTV that his building was “destroyed.” The structure is “completely in flames,” the witness said, adding that the explosion “destroyed the facades” of other nearby businesses.
#BREAKING: A portion of the Paris American Academy has collapsed following major gas explosion in Paris, France. pic.twitter.com/AVlmalHtsP
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) June 21, 2023
