Four people are hurt as an explosion occurs in a building in Paris

Four people were hurt after a powerful explosion struck a building on the Left Bank of Paris on Wednesday.

The explosion also started a fire that forced buildings to be evacuated and threw smoke over the Pantheon monument. It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion.

According to a Paris police officer, the exterior of a building in the 5th arrondissement, or district, fell, and emergency personnel were attempting to ascertain whether anyone was still inside.

Four people, according to arrondissement mayor Florence Berthout, are in an “absolute emergency” situation.

She described the explosion as being incredibly forceful as she pointed to the glass that was still falling from buildings.

A cordon had been placed around the neighborhood, and there were several emergency personnel there.

Loubna Atta, a spokeswoman for the Paris police, said it was too early to ascertain the origin of the fire and that she was unable to corroborate rumors that a gas explosion had set it off.