80 fire-fighters tackle Paris blaze

Published September 1, 2005

PARIS, Aug 31: Eighty fire-fighters were fighting a blaze in the centre of Paris on Wednesday close to the Pompidou Centre and Paris City Hall, a fire brigade spokesman and witnesses said.

Twenty-two fire engines from eight fire stations were mobilised to tackle the blaze, which sent a thick plume of smoke into the evening sky, the fire brigade said.

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties.

A fire spokesman said initial reports put the blaze in a store but local residents told a Reuters correspondent on the scene that an apartment block was ablaze.—Agencies

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...