A gas explosion started a blaze in buildings in the Latin Quarter of central Paris, officials and witnesses said.
BFM TV showed fire services sealing off the hire and trying to hose down a building, and Parisians posted images on Twitter of a huge plume of smoke that was visible across much of the city.
Journalist Olivier Galzi told BFM TV that he had seen the facade of a nearby building "completely collapse."
Police urged people to avoid the area.
Reuters