Explosion rips through flats in Paris sending fireball across street

By Deputy Chief EditorApril 7, 2019

203 1 minute read

Dozens of flats have been damaged after an explosion ripped through an apartment block in Paris.

Fire broke out just after 9.30pm last night in a flat in Boulevard Macdonald, in the 19th arrondissement, just north of the Gare du Nord Eurostar hub.

Video from the scene shows a fireball hurled into the air from the explosion, lighting up the entire street.

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In this image made from video released by the Paris Fire Dept., a firefighter stands in front of a burning residential building in Paris Saturday night, April 6, 2019. The fast-moving fire ravaged the residential building on the northern edge of Paris. Firefighters spokesman Gabriel Plus says there are no known victims in the blaze that moved through four floors of the large modern structure. (Paris Fire Dept. via AP) — A firefighter stands in front of the burning residential building in Paris (Picture: AP)

In this image made from video released by the Paris Fire Dept., a firefighter hoses down braze with water at a burning residential building in Paris Saturday night, April 6, 2019. The fast-moving fire ravaged the residential building on the northern edge of Paris. Firefighters spokesman Gabriel Plus says there are no known victims in the blaze that moved through four floors of the large modern structure. (Paris Fire Dept. via AP) — A firefighter hoses down the building with water (Picture: AP)

Despite the ferocity of the blaze, early indications were that for the moment there are no victims – nobody injured, said Gabriel Plus, a spokesman for the Paris fire brigade.

He also said that there was no gas supply into the building, but that bottles of gas or a barbeque may have caught fire on a balcony, causing the explosion.

Dramatic videos posted by neighbours on Twitter showed the ferocious explosion, but it appeared that the building had been evacuated by this time.

Incendie en cours dans un immeuble dans le 19eme arrondissement #paris boulevard McDonald
Forte explosion pic.twitter.com/SEQ5Xn1U0e

— MarocOnline (@maroc_online) April 6, 2019

INCENDIE À PARIS : Une forte explosion a retenti dans l'immeuble en feu. L'électricité a été coupé dans la rue. #Incendie pic.twitter.com/OoxDNouYem

— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) April 6, 2019

There are around 50 fire fighters involved in the operation to bring the fire under control, said Commandant Plus.

He said 27 flats had been damaged in the six storey building, adding just before 11pm: At the moment,Read More – Source

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