A building in Paris’ Left Bank was rocked by a powerful explosion on Wednesday, resulting in the injury of at least 24 people and causing a fire that produced smoke over the city’s monuments. As a precaution, authorities evacuated nearby properties and police are investigating whether a gas leak caused the blast. The building’s facade in the 5th arrondissement collapsed, and rescue teams are searching for two individuals who may still be trapped inside. Paris’ upscale neighborhood, near the Val de Grace military hospital, was affected by the explosion. Approximately 270 firefighters and 70 emergency vehicles were involved in containing the flames, but the fire was not fully extinguished by Wednesday evening. Despite the incident, the city conducted its annual music festival to celebrate the summer solstice. Ambulances passed through the neighborhood as sirens wailed, and initially, the street where the explosion occurred, rue Saint-Jacques, was cordoned off by the police. However, as the evening progressed, smoke ceased to pour out of the building. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stated the possibility of finding bodies or survivors overnight. District Mayor Florence Berthout reported that firefighters were searching for two individuals who were believed to be in the building during the explosion. She described the blast as extremely violent and mentioned that glass fragments were still falling from buildings. Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez revealed that the building housed the Paris American Academy, a private school that offers education in fashion design, interior design, fine arts, and creative writing. According to a Paris police official, 24 individuals were injured, with four in critical condition and 20 with less severe injuries. The injuries were primarily caused by individuals being propelled by the force of the blast. Witnesses, such as Jema Halbert, who owns a butcher’s shop close to the scene, described the panic and shock they experienced upon hearing the explosion. Though Deputy Mayor Edouard Civel attributed the explosion to a gas leak, other officials were more cautious. Grenades-Greek filmmaker Costa-Gavras was among the witnesses at the scene, describing the startling impact of the blast. The Paris prosecutor opened an investigation into aggravated involuntary injury and will examine whether the explosion was the result of safety regulation violations. Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to two neighboring buildings, which were destabilized by the explosion and subsequently evacuated. The blast shattered several windows in the vicinity. Given Paris’ population density and its aging infrastructure, the city has experienced gas explosions in the past, including one that occurred in January 2019 and resulted in four deaths and numerous injuries. An anonymous student from the private school, approximately 100 meters away from the site, recounted their experience during the explosion and praised the quick response of the police in evacuating the area. The authors of this content are Angela Charlton and Alex Turnbull.