Gas blast kills Bangladeshi boy, injures seven in France building collapse

A 3-year-old Bangladeshi child has been killed and seven others injured, two critically, when an explosion caused a house to collapse in Aubervilliers, near Paris.

The blast occurred around 9:30pm local time on Saturday at a pavilion house on Rue Paul-Verlaine in Seine-Saint-Denis. Part of the building collapsed.

French media Le Monde and Le Parisien, citing local authorities, reported that a gas leak was initially suspected.

An investigation has been opened under the Bobigny prosecutor’s office.

The child, identified only as Nahil, was the son of France-based Bangladeshi national Russell Ahmed.

The blast severely damaged the house.

Specially trained French firefighters and rescue dogs searched the rubble for people trapped underneath.

About 110 firefighters took part in the operation, according to local authorities.

Aubervilliers Mayor Sofienne Karroumi said in a social media post early Sunday that rescuers had worked for hours to prevent the situation from becoming even worse and to pull people from the rubble.

Local authorities have arranged temporary shelter for affected families, preparing rooms in a municipal building and changing rooms at a stadium.

News of Nahil’s death has reached Katkhal, where relatives and residents are mourning.