37 injured in explosion in central Paris Swiss Life fined in Singapore for violating guidelines

At least 37 people were injured in a violent explosion at a building in central Paris on Wednesday, four of them seriously. According to preliminary investigations, the explosion, which was caused by a gas leak, partially collapsed a multi-storey building in the fifth arrondissement and started a major fire that spread to several neighboring buildings. Other houses whose windows had been shattered by the explosion were also evacuated.

Videos of a collapsed building on fire circulated on social media.

The fire brigade called on the population to stay away from the scene of the fire near the Jardin du Luxembourg in the fifth arrondissement and to allow rescuers to intervene quickly.

In the evening, two missing persons were searched under the rubble. Heavy equipment will be deployed to remove the debris, the interior minister said. According to him, the dead can be recovered during the night or survivors can be rescued.

Eyewitnesses spoke of a huge explosion that reminded them of a bomb hit. The plume of smoke could also be seen from afar. President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences to those affected. “We think of the victims of the explosion in Paris, of the missing and of the rescuers on duty.”

230 firefighters on duty

Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne hurried to the site of the explosion, which was cordoned off by soldiers. You have set up a crisis center, said Mayor Anne Hidalgo. According to broadcaster BFMTV, 230 firefighters were on the scene. The fire is now under control, the fire service reported in the evening.

According to media reports, the building housed, among other things, a fashion school and a music institute. It was initially unknown how many people were in the building at the time of the explosion shortly before 5 p.m. The local mayor’s office opened its doors to those affected and helpers.

The public prosecutor’s office has launched investigations into bodily injury due to negligence, neglected caution or safety, broadcaster BFMTV reports. Accordingly, the investigators assume that the explosion came from the building. (lst/sda/dpa)

update follows…