At least eight people are killed in huge fire in Paris neighbourhood popular with tourists 

Eight people are killed and dozens injured as fire tears through eight-storey building in trendy Paris neighbourhood popular with tourists leaving survivors scrambling over roofs to escape

  • At least eight people are dead and 31 others hurt after a building fire in Paris 
  • Blaze tore through eight-storey block in French capital’s 16th arrondissement
  • Witnesses said survivors had to climb across roofs to escape spreading inferno
  • 200 firefighters were on the scene this morning trying to control the flames 

Eight people have died in a building fire in a wealthy Paris neighbourhood in the early hours of Tuesday, the fire service said.

The blaze in the French capital’s trendy 16th arrondissement also left 31 people – including six firefighters – injured.

The fire in the eight-storey apartment building was extinguished on Tuesday morning, after 50 people were rescued from the flames.  

Paris authorities said this morning that a woman has been arrested in connection with the blaze, however the cause is not yet known. 

Paris firefighters are scaling the exterior of the building to tackle the blaze in the 16th

In this image taken from video released by the Paris Fire Dept., firemen scale the top floors of an apartment building on fire 

In this image taken from video released by the Paris Fire Dept., firemen scale the top floors of an apartment building on fire 

Mr Cognon said firefighters rescued two dozen people who had fled to the roof or climbed out of windows to escape the flames, and evacuated others from inside.

Witness Jacqueline Ravier, who lives across the street, said flames were shooting from the top of the building as smoke-covered victims fled.

‘I heard a woman screaming in the street, crying and screaming for help,’ she said.

She added that shaken residents were brought to her building and the one next door while firefighters continued to fight the flames.

‘We feel the smoke,’ she said. ‘What’s surprising is how long it lasted.’

Seven people died and another was seriously injured in a building fire in a wealthy Paris neighbourhood on Monday night

Seven people died and another was seriously injured in a building fire in a wealthy Paris neighbourhood on Monday night

At approximately 3:30am local time, fire crews had finished evacuating the block on Erlanger Street but were still fighting the flames

At approximately 3:30am local time, fire crews had finished evacuating the block on Erlanger Street but were still fighting the flames

The building is less than a mile from the Roland Garros stadium that hosts the French Open tennis tournament, and close to the popular Bois de Boulogne park on the city’s western edge.

More than 200 firefighters and emergency workers are on the scene, Paris police said, and the street is blocked off.

People in neighbouring buildings were also evacuated.

The fire comes a month after a deadly explosion and blaze linked to a gas leak in a Paris bakery.

The 16th arrondissement is one of the most luxurious districts of Paris.

‘The toll could still increase because the fire is still in progress on the 7th and 8th floors’ of the eight-storey block, a fire service spokesman told a reporter at the scene. 

At least seven people have died in the devastating fire in a wealthy Paris neighbourhood

At least seven people have died in the devastating fire in a wealthy Paris neighbourhood

Some of those affected scrambled on to nearby roofs to escape the smoke and flames, and needed to be rescued by fire crews

Some of those affected scrambled on to nearby roofs to escape the smoke and flames, and needed to be rescued by fire crews

Firefighters say the death toll could increase because the fire has still not been extinguished

Firefighters say the death toll could increase because the fire has still not been extinguished

Firefighters say the death toll could increase because the fire has still not been extinguished

Fire service spokesman Clement Cognon speaks to the press after a building caught fire in the 16th arrondissement

Fire service spokesman Clement Cognon speaks to the press after a building caught fire in the 16th arrondissement

200 firefighters battled to control the blaze and rescue survivors who fled onto nearby roofs

200 firefighters battled to control the blaze and rescue survivors who fled onto nearby roofs

The block had been evacuated early today but firefighters continued to battle the flames

The block had been evacuated early today but firefighters continued to battle the flames

Some of those affected scrambled on to nearby roofs to escape the smoke and flames, and needed to be rescued by fire crews.

With landmarks including the Trocadero overlooking the Eiffel Tower, Paris Saint-Germain’s home stadium the Parc des Princes, the picturesque Bois de Bologne and an array of upmarket shops and restaurants, the area is popular with tourists.

Fire service spokesman Clement Cognon said earlier: ‘We had to carry out many rescues, including some people who had taken refuge on the roofs.’

At approximately 3.30am local time, fire crews had finished evacuating the block on Erlanger Street but were still fighting the flames. Several surrounding buildings were also evacuated.

Around 200 firefighters were still at the scene in the early hours of Tuesday, battling the blaze and treating the injured. 

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