Huge gas explosion at university in Lyon, France

RT
Thu, 17 Jan 2019 10:33 UTC

© AFP / Romain CHANU

Several gas explosions rocked a university science library in eastern France as a massive construction fire broke out on its roof. Three people received minor injuries and students and staff were evacuated from campus buildings.

A large fire broke out on Thursday morning at one of the Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 campuses in Villeurbanne, a suburb of Lyon in eastern France. Video from the scene shows the building's roof engulfed in flames. Several explosions can be seen bursting through the fire.

The fire erupted on the roof terrace when the building, which hosts the university's science library, was undergoing construction work, the university tweeted.

Three people received light injuries and the fire "is under control," the university added.

Local media says the blasts came from three gas tanks which exploded as the fire began to spread.

Police and firefighters have been deployed to the scene. Staff and students were evacuated from nearby buildings.

Comment: This comes 5 days after another serious, suspected, gas explosion in Paris, as well as number of other gas related fires from the US to Russia in the past few months:

• Suspected 'gas leak' triggers explosion in central Paris, reports of injuries - UPDATE (12th January 2019)
• 4 killed, 35 missing after gas explosion rips through residential building in Russia - UPDATE (31st December 2018)
• Surge at ConEd substation casts eerie blue glow over New York (28th December 2018)
• Mine bursts into flames killing 9 in Solikamsk, Russia (23rd December)
• 13 dead in Czech coal mine methane explosion (21st December 2018)
• Towns burn after 'apocalyptic' explosions tear across Northern Massachusetts (14th September 2018)
• Explosions and huge fire at Zurich central station (25th August 2018)