At least 37 people have been injured in a fiery explosion near Rue Saint Jacques in Paris, with four in critical condition, and two unaccounted for. The blast is thought to be the result of a gas leak, although French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters that “There was no alarm sent out before the incident.”


Shocking videos of the explosion’s aftermath have quickly spread across Twitter, with the devastation a jarring sight in the city of love.




Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated that the explosion originated in the Paris American Academy building, but investigators are still uncertain about what set it off.


“Cue the conspiracy theorists,” the Twitter user @SullyVino commented.


But while there were dozens of comments suspicious of the blast’s true origins, there is no evidence of foul play.




About 270 firefighters were called to the explosion, and a portion of the building collapsed as a result of the fire. According to Kent State, all of its exchange students reported themselves as safe.


Considering this incident alongside March’s fiery retirement age protests, it’s past time Paris was in the news for its beauty, instead of its burning.