A devastating fire ripped through a central Paris hotel in the early hours of Friday, claiming the lives of at least 20 people, including 10 children. The inferno, one of the deadliest in the French capital in two decades, left more than 50 others injured.
This tragic incident occurred at the Paris-Opera hotel, a modest six-story establishment located near the iconic Opera Garnier and behind the upscale Galeries Lafayette department store. The hotel, which provided temporary shelter for both tourists and low-income families, was engulfed in flames, leaving its occupants with few options for escape.
Witnesses described harrowing scenes of desperation as residents jumped from windows to avoid the raging inferno. Alfred Millot, head of Galeries Lafayette’s fire service, saw residents desperately throwing their children out of windows in a desperate bid for survival. “It was a chaotic scene,” he said, “People were jumping, crying out for help, windows were ablaze. It was heart-wrenching.”
The fire’s cause is believed to be accidental, according to a police source, but a thorough investigation is underway. Investigators have not uncovered any evidence suggesting arson.
A City in Mourning
French President Jacques Chirac expressed his profound sorrow, calling the incident “one of the most painful catastrophes that has ever plunged Paris into mourning.” He added, “This tragedy fills us all with horror and has deeply upset us.”
The fire claimed the lives of 20 people, including one baby. The victims included French, Senegalese, Portuguese, Ivorian, American, Ukrainian, and Tunisian nationals. Eleven of the injured sustained serious injuries, while two firefighters were treated for minor injuries. The exact identities of the deceased are still being determined.
Tragically, emergency services believe that the death toll could still rise. One official suggested that the number of fatalities would have been lower had residents remained in their rooms instead of attempting to escape the flames.
A City Rallies for Support
More than 250 firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the blaze, which broke out at around 2:00 am and was not fully extinguished until just before 6:00 am. The thick smoke billowed through the air, reaching several blocks away. The smell of burnt wood and plastic was a stark reminder of the devastating loss.
An emergency medical center and a makeshift morgue were set up at Galeries Lafayette. The Red Cross established an emergency post nearby to provide psychological support to survivors.
Paris police chief Pierre Mutz reported that 75 people were staying at the hotel, which local residents described as housing numerous immigrant families, many of them African. A fire department official confirmed that the Paris town hall and the welfare department had rented many of the rooms to house needy families.
While the hotel underwent regular safety checks, the police chief stated that the blaze’s rapid spread and the resulting panic led to the high number of victims. The only exit from the building was the main entrance, but the staircase quickly became engulfed in flames, trapping many residents on upper floors.
The fire at the Paris-Opera hotel serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of fire safety and the devastating consequences of a fire breaking out in a densely populated building.
