An explosion tore through an apartment building in central Paris on Wednesday, partly collapsing the structure and injuring at least 24 people, 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.
Persons:
Jacques, Laurent Nuñez, destabilized ”
Organizations:
Rue Saint
Locations:
Paris, Rue, Fifth