Dozens injured in Paris building blast

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 critical condition.

Authorities reported that as many as 50 individuals had suffered injuries, with Health Minister Francois Braun stating that two of the victims had sustained "extremely serious injuries" and were fighting for their lives, The Associated Press reported.

The blast struck a design school frequented by international students, located in Paris' fifth district near the border of the Latin Quarter, causing the building to collapse, Agence France-Presse reported. The blast occurred as Paris bars and restaurants celebrated the summer solstice with a citywide annual music festival, according to 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 news briefing early on Thursday, Paris First Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said one previously missing person had been located overnight in the hospital.

Cause unknown

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters in a news briefing on Wednesday evening that the cause of the explosion remained uncertain.

"We do not know its origin," Darmanin said.

Florence Berthout, mayor of the district, referred to the explosion as "extremely violent" and said shards of glass continue to fall from the affected buildings.

Police spokeswoman Loubna Atta said it was premature to identify the origin of the fire and could not confirm reports suggesting it resulted from a gas explosion.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said an investigation into involuntary wounding had been initiated. "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," Beccuau said.

Television footage depicted debris from the Paris American Academy scattered along Rue Saint-Jacques and smoke ascending from two neighboring buildings, AFP reported.

As stated on the 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, 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, the BBC reported. 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, The Times newspaper said.