Paris Bakery Blast: "Sounded like earthquake," says a firefighter

Paris : A gas explosion in Central Paris tore through a building killing at least two firefighters and a Spanish woman, injuring dozens of the people in the nearby apartment, said officials.

Nearly 200 firefighters were deployed to battle the fire that broke out post explosion and evacuate victims and residents from the nearby areas, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told reporters at the scene.

Post explosion, cars were seen overturned with glass shattered on the streets.

Dozens of residents were treated by rescue workers on the street.

"I was sleeping and was woken up by the blast wave," Claire Sallavuard, who lives on the Rue de Trevise where the explosion occurred, told AFP. "All the windows in the apartment exploded, doors were blown off their hinges, I had to walk on the door to leave the room, all the kids were panicking, they couldn't get out of their room."

"Firefighters advised us to leave but the elevator shaft had been blown out, there was no railing, nothing, and there was too much smoke," she said.

'Like an earthquake'

The shockwave was felt as far as four blocks away, Commander Eric Moulin of the Paris fire service said, adding that rescuers were still searching for other victims.

Tourists in nearby hotels were also evacuated to safety.