Ten people, including a baby, have died in a fire at an eight-storey building in south-western Paris, fire service officials say.
More than 30 people —including six firefighters—were injured. One person is in a serious condition.
Fifty people were evacuated by ladders from the blaze in the upmarket 16th arrondissement. The Paris prosecutor says it may have been deliberately started. Police have detained a female suspect.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that the country “had woken up to tragedy”, and praised the fire services for their courage. Rue Erlanger is a residential street close to the Parc des Princes soccer stadium.
The fire started on the second floor and spread across the 1970s building on Erlanger street shortly after lam local time, forcing some residents to scramble on to nearby rooftops to escape the flames and smoke.
About 250 firefighters were deployed to the scene not far from the Bois de Boulogne park, helping to rescue those trapped on the roofs.
Pictures showed flames coming from the top floor windows and firefighters in breathing apparatus scaling ladders to reach residents.
Death toll
“When we arrived, we were faced with an apocalyptic situation. Lots of people were calling for help from the windows”, the spokesman said.
Six firefighters are among the injured, reports French broadcaster BFMTV. The fire was brought under control after a five-hour operation, but the death toll could still increase, a fire service spokesman told the AFP news agency.
Nothing of the fire is visible from the end of the street, which has been sealed off. Firefighters says this complicated their task because they could not use their vehicles. The courtyard also acted as a funnel, helping the flames to spread from the lower to upper floors. Neighbours are being quizzed by journalists.
Surrounding buildings in the area have been evacuated as a precaution. Town hall officials have been tasked with finding alternative accommodation.