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3 killed, including 2 firefighters, and dozens hurt in Paris explosion

Posted at 10:32 AM, Jan 12, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-12 10:33:20-05

PARIS, France (CNN) — Three people, including two firefighters, have died and dozens more people were injured after a gas leak caused an explosion in Paris, emergency services in the French capital say.

The blast occurred at a bakery at 9 a.m. local time on Saturday, as firefighters were responding reports of the leak.

Police had originally said four people had died, before revising down the death count.

“At this hour, 2 firefighters from the Paris fire brigade are dead. 10 people are seriously injured, including a firefighter. 37 people are in a state of relative emergency,” French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner tweeted.

“Profound sadness. Standing by the families of victims. The nation shares in their pain,” he added.

Spain’s Foreign Minister Josep Borrell Fontelles later said that a Spanish citizen died in hospital following the explosion, and that another Spaniard was injured.

Pictures from the scene, on Rue de Trevise in the 9th arrondissement of the French capital, showed smashed windows and scattered debris across the street, as fire crews evacuated people from apartments above the bakery.