Police continue to investigate the origin of a powerful explosion that sparked a fire in the heart of Paris on Wednesday, leading to the evacuation of nearby buildings and leaving up to six people in a critical condition, Ednews reports citing Associated Press.
Authorities reported that as many as 50 individuals had sustained injuries, with Health Minister Francois Braun stating two of the victims had sustained "extremely serious injuries" and were fighting for their lives.
The blast struck a design school frequented by international students, located in Paris's fifth district near the border of the Latin Quarter, causing the building to collapse, reported Agence France-Presse, or AFP. The blast occurred as Paris bars and restaurants celebrated the summer solstice with a citywide annual music festival, said agency reports.
Emergency workers continued combing through the debris of the collapsed building on Thursday morning, as one individual was still unaccounted for.
During a press briefing early Thursday, Paris First Deputy Emmanuel Gregoire said that one previously missing person had been located overnight in the hospital.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters, in a news briefing on Wednesday evening, that the cause of the explosion remained uncertain.
"There was no alert preceding this explosion. We do not know its origin", said the minister.
Florence Berthout, the mayor of the district, referred to the explosion as "extremely violent" and described shards of glass continuing to fall from the affected buildings.
Police spokesperson Loubna Atta stated that it was premature to identify the origin of the fire and could not confirm reports suggesting it resulted from a gas explosion.
Laure Beccuau, the state prosecutor in Paris, said that an investigation into involuntary wounding had been initiated, reported news agencies. "We are going to look to see if there was a failure to respect the rules or an individual negligence, which could have caused this explosion."
Television footage depicted debris from the Paris American Academy scattered along Rue Saint-Jacques and smoke ascending from two neighboring buildings, said AFP. Rue Saint-Jacques stretches from Notre Dame Cathedral to the Sorbonne University and Val de Grace.
As stated on the Paris American Academy's website, the private institution is a bilingual design school providing courses in fashion, interior design, arts, and creative writing. The majority of its students come from international backgrounds, with many from the United States.
The explosion took place at 4:55 pm local time, coinciding with people's commute home from work. Approximately 70 fire trucks and 270 firefighters participated in the emergency response efforts.
Witnesses reported a potent gas smell preceding the explosion, reported the BBC. Following a gas explosion that claimed four lives in northern Paris in 2019, critics expressed concerns about the "catastrophic" state of the capital's gas distribution network, noted The Times newspaper.
