Several people left seriously injured after suspected gas leak explosion in Paris

12 people are reported to be seriously injured

A fire broke out in central Paris on Saturday morning after a suspected gas explosion.

The fire service in Paris urged people to avoid the area as firefighters tackled the blaze.

🔴 #intervention en cours des @PompiersParis pour un incendie dans un commerce suivi d’une forte explosion rue de Trévise dans le 9ème. Évitez le secteur et laissez le passage aux véhicules de secours

— Préfecture de Police (@prefpolice) January 12, 2019

Police believe a gas explosion in a bakery caused the fire, which wrecked numerous cars and damaged neighbouring buildings on Rue de Trévise in the 9th Arrondissement.

The street was covered in debris with passers by looking shocked as they watched the scene unfold.

Visiting the scene, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the situation was now under control.

80,000 police officers are reported to be on standby this weekend in case more yellow vest protests break out, though this incident is not believed to be in connection to their message.

“I was sleeping and woke up by the blast wave,” AFP news agency were told by Claire Sallavuard.

“All the windows in the apartment exploded, doors were blown off their hinges, I had to walk on the door to leave the room, all the kids were panicking, they couldn’t get out of their room.”