https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElMGwi81vkY

An explosion tore through an apartment building in central Paris on Wednesday, according to the French authorities.

The explosion, which occurred around 5 p.m. on Rue Saint-Jacques, in the Fifth Arrondissement of the French capital, projected rubble and glass into the street and started a fire that sent black smoke billowing into the sky.

Four of the people injured in the blast were in critical condition, according to the Paris police.

Laurent Nuñez, the Paris police prefect, told reporters more than 250 firefighters had deployed to the scene and were able to prevent the flames from spreading to neighboring buildings, which were nonetheless “seriously destabilized” and evacuated.

Mr. Nuñez said rescue workers were looking through the rubble late Wednesday for other potential victims. The Paris prosecutor’s office said at least two people were missing.

CAUSE OF EXPLOSION

The cause of the explosion, which rattled the neighborhood with a loud boom, was not immediately clear. The prosecutor’s office said it had opened an investigation.

Some witnesses told French media that they had smelled a strong odor of gas shortly before the blast.
Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor, told reporters at the scene that the blast appeared to have started in the building itself, which sits on the corner of a semicircular plaza, next to the ValdeGrâce church.

Ms. Beccuau said that investigators would try to determine whether the explosion was the result of individual negligence, noncompliance with building security rules or another cause. But the charges being considered by the prosecutor’s office — unintentional injuries — suggested foul play was not a leading theory.

Gilles Le Gendre, a French lawmaker who represents the area and who lives nearby, told the news channel BFMTV that there were several institutions in or near the building — including school administrative offices, a music and dance institute, and an American fashion school.

Clip from the scene:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42jR7qoi7Zs
CASUALTIES

There are 29 people injured. Four people are in "absolute emergency" and 25 are in "relative emergency."

Two people are also missing. The rubble of the damaged building is being searched.

Police and a national government minister quickly urged people to avoid the area.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/21/world/europe/paris-explosion.html

more pictures..

Nothing is more painful than suffering an economic loss due to the cheap negligence of others.

Omo!!!
This reminds me of a scene I watched in season 1 of "S.W.A.T" series
My verdict [The explosion is by a Terrorist] 😒😏

our Tinubu!

Hope our darling Daddy is safe.

Anywhere he goes calamity follows

Maybe the normal culprits in terms of kaboom explosion

BOSSkesh:
Anywhere he goes calamity follows

rest

Na waa

No place is safe and secure... Na some people paradise dry burn so

I do hope that people living in places like this don't suffer constant panic attack

Nowhere is totally safe except ijebu ode

Nawa Ooo