The death toll rises as Paris gets rocked by an explosion

At least 24 people have been injured and two are missing following an explosion that caused a fire in Paris on Wednesday. Four of the injured are in a life-threatening condition, according to French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. The blast occurred near the Val-de-Grace military hospital in the 5th arrondissement, also known as the Latin Quarter, on the Left Bank of the Seine. Around 70 fire trucks and 230 firefighters were dispatched to contain the blaze, which was succeeded by the early evening. Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said the emergency services were searching the rubble for potential victims. Florence Berthout, mayor of the arrondissement, described the explosion as “extremely violent” and recounted pieces of glass falling from the buildings.

The cause of the blast is still under investigation, however, Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau suggested that the explosion may have originated inside the building. The investigation will also look into whether the building was in breach of regulations or if it was the result of an accident. Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler, reporting from the scene, said police were working to keep people away from the area. She explained that the neighbourhood is “upscale” and “very busy”, often visited by tourists.

The incident has reminded some Parisians of when the Notre Dame was on fire in 2019. That explosion was caused by a gas leak, resulting in four deaths and 66 injuries. The shockwave blew out windows and dozens of families were forced to evacuate their homes for months. It is currently unknown if the Paris fire will cause similar damage and the emergency services are still searching for any potential victims.