A fire killed three people this Sunday evening in a building in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, Le Parisien learned from reliable sources. According to initial information, an explosion whose origin remains to be determined was heard at the beginning of the evening, before a fire broke out on the 7th floor of a building on rue de Charonne which has eight floors.
“The neighbors do not understand what could have triggered this explosion, because there is no gas in the building,” Luc Lebon, deputy mayor of the 11th arrondissement, told Le Parisien. However, the gas trail has not been ruled out by the police, despite denials from the residents of the building.
A criminal investigation was opened for “destruction by fire or dangerous means” and “involuntary homicide”, entrusted to investigators from the 2nd judicial police district of the capital, said the public prosecutor.
A man threw himself out of the window
A man, panicked, allegedly threw himself out of the window. According to a witness, “he first tried to reach the neighboring apartment by climbing from the outside. Another resident told him not to jump. When it fell, I closed my window. I couldn’t watch that. » The firefighters tried, in vain, to resuscitate him, but he died on the spot. Two bodies were then found charred in the damaged apartment.
This explosion hit a building in the private park, specifies Nour Durand-Raucher, Paris councilor, delegate for security in the 11th arrondissement. “The residents of the building should be able to return to their apartments within two hours. We will organize, if necessary, shelter for the occupants of the 7th floor,” indicated the elected official this Sunday evening, around 10 p.m. The victims are currently being welcomed at the Le Nouveau Carillon bar, located at the top of rue de Charonne.
“I saw the flames coming out of the building”
“The police won’t let me in. My roommate was in the shower when he was evacuated,” says a local resident. “The firefighters are continuing to examine the structure but they are very optimistic at this stage,” specifies Luc Lebon. 17 fire brigade vehicles were engaged on site, specifies the police headquarters.
However, local residents are still in shock. Ahmadou heard the detonation. Then, upon his arrival, “I saw flames coming out of the building. People were screaming. The person had already jumped…”
“I was evacuated around 8 p.m. I saw the man on the ground who threw himself out of the window, says a resident of the building with emotion. We are waiting for instructions. The evacuation took place calmly, but we were still shocked because we were caught off guard. »
Around 11:30 p.m., the occupants of neighboring buildings, also evacuated, began to return to their homes.
This is the third time, in just a few years, that the capital has been hit by an explosion within a building and causing several deaths. On January 12, 2019, an explosion hit rue de Trévise, in which four people lost their lives. Last year, on June 21, 2023, 277 rue Saint-Jacques was blown up. Three people then died.
“I send all my condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims and would like to assure them of the full support of the municipality which stands by their side,” reacted the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo in a message sent to AFP. I also extend my gratitude to the firefighters who intervened quickly and were able to contain the fire. »