Paris gas blast injures 35

A gas pipe exploded in a busy Paris suburb today injuring at least 35 people.

The origin of the blast, across the street from a church in the town of Bondy, was not immediately known.

Around 150 firefighters and 40 trucks battled the fire which followed, spreading to a nearby building.

Some 90 minutes after the blast, which happened at 1pm Irish time, gas was still burning even though the line had been cut.

The injured, many suffering from burns, were taken to hospitals in the region north-east of Paris or in the capital.