Massive Explosion Flattens Paris American Academy During Fashion Week

A large explosion in Paris on Wednesday appeared to destroy the Paris American Academy during the city's Fashion Week, according to footage posted on social media.

"Intervention in progress rue Saint-Jacques at #Paris5. Avoid the area and let the emergency services and the police intervene," the Prefecture of Police of Paris said in a tweet.

Édourd Civl, an elected official in Paris 5, said on Twitter that the incident was a "gas explosion" that occurred at the Place Alfonse Laveran in the Val de Grace district. "Buildings are on fire, stay away to allow firefighters to intervene," he tweeted.

The explosion destroyed the facade of the Paris American Academy, BFM TV, a news channel based in France, reported. At least 16 people were injured in the explosion but it is currently unclear what caused it. Seven people were considered to be in "absolute emergency," according to BFM.

Dozens of popular celebrities and models travel to the French capital during Paris Fashion Week to showcase different trends and outfits. Singers Pharrell and Jay-Z performed at one afterparty while Los Angeles Lakers star Lebron James was seen in town with his wife, Savannah. It's unclear if any of the injured were Fashion Week attendees.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin also confirmed the explosion and fire on Twitter, saying: "A fire is underway rue Saint-Jacques, in the 5th arrondissement of Paris. The Paris firefighters intervene. Please do not interfere with their intervention and avoid the area."

Newsweek reached out to the Prefecture of Police of Paris via its website for comment.

French politician Renaud Muselier also posted a video of the explosion on Twitter and wrote, "For us Marseillais, women and men of #RegionSud, the emotion is great when seeing the images of Rue Saint-Jacques in #Paris."

Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said a preliminary investigation into the explosion "lead us to confirm that this explosion started from the building," BFM reported.

"All the investigations will be completed, the technical investigations, the hearings, the exploitation of the CCTV cameras," Beccuau said. Authorities are actively searching the area where the explosion took place. An official with the Prefecture of Police of Paris said that authorities were searching underneath the "rubble" of the explosion.

Valérie Pécresse, president of the regional council in France, wrote on Twitter: "Total support for the residents of Place Alfonse Laveran hit by a violent explosion which left four inhabitants in a state of absolute emergency. Thank you to the rescue forces mobilized to find possible victims in the rubble and secure the perimeter."

Update 6/21/23, 2:10 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.