Seven individuals are in a essential situation and 9 extra are injured after a big explosion within the Latin Quarter of central Paris, police have mentioned.

The blast set buildings on hearth, left rubble strewn throughout a road, and despatched a plume of black smoke throughout the French capital.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin mentioned there was a blaze on Rue Saint-Jacques in Paris's fifth arrondissement, near the Jardin Du Luxembourg and Sorbonne University.

Florence Berthout, the mayor of the fifth arrondissement, has mentioned the reason for the fireplace was a gasoline explosion.

However, Paris police spokeswoman Loubna Atta mentioned it was too early to find out the supply of the fireplace and couldn't affirm studies it was attributable to gasoline.

Mr Berthout mentioned these critically injured had been in an "absolute emergency" situation.

"The explosion was extremely violent," she mentioned, describing items of glass nonetheless falling from buildings.

A police official mentioned the facade of 1 constructing had fallen onto the road because of the explosion, and that many firefighters and members of the police pressure had been attending to the scene.

BFM TV confirmed hearth companies making an attempt to dampen a constructing and Parisians posted photos on Twitter of an enormous plume of smoke that was seen throughout a lot of the town.

Police are additionally urging individuals to keep away from the realm.

French news channel BFM TV confirmed hearth companies making an attempt to dampen a constructing and Parisians posted photos on Twitter of an enormous plume of smoke that was seen throughout a lot of the town.

Journalist Olivier Galzi instructed the channel that he had seen the facade of a close-by constructing "completely collapse".

"This is chaos," mentioned Christopher Gaglione, who mentioned he witnessed the scene.

Police have urged individuals to keep away from the realm.