Pyréneés explosion: seven killed in incident in south of France
GuardianNov 26, 2021
The Facts
On Wednesday, a suspected gas leak caused a large explosion and fire in central Paris’ fifth arrondissement, injuring at least 37 people. At least two people have been reported missing amidst the rubble.
Some 270 firefighters and 70 emergency vehicles were sent to the scene near the Val de Grace military hospital, where people were marking the summer solstice with an annual music festival.
The Spin
Narrative A
Paris’ gas network is a ticking time bomb, yet, despite the city's government being charged with involuntary manslaughter over the 2019 blast, nothing has been done to keep people safe. A gas leak likely caused Wednesday’s blaze, but even if it had another origin, the Paris City Council should work quickly to rebuild its rundown gas network to avoid another tragic event.
Narrative B
It’s too early to determine the exact cause of Wednesday’s explosion, but the most important priority at this moment is to rescue those trapped under the rubble and nurse injured victims back to health. Local officials and police will thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire, and Paris will work to rebuild and heal from this incident.
