Major Fire Erupts Near Central Paris Train Station

A massive fire has broken out in southeastern Paris near the Gare de Lyon train station. The fire has prompted police to evacuate the area.

Breaking: Massive fire at Gare de Lyon train station in Paris, France. A protest against a Congolese singer who supports the current Congo President was taking place in the area. pic.twitter.com/cVm6sCoM3Q

— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) February 28, 2020

French police said the train station was evacuated and advised people to avoid the area. They didn’t elaborate on the cause of the fire. 

#GareDeLyon | Les @PompiersParis ont maîtrisé le feu qui est en cours d’extinction.
Évitez le secteur. Intervention des secours toujours en cours.

— Préfecture de Police (@prefpolice) February 28, 2020

The UK’s Express suggests that the fire was started by a group of protestors voicing their opposition to a concert by Congolese singer Fally Ipupa. Twitter videos are emerging of streets around the train station engulfed in fire. 

Update : Video of the rioters preventing the firefighters from putting out the fires near the Gare de Lyon in #Paris in relation to a concert by a Congolese starpic.twitter.com/KtHeIHuBlY

— Shark NewsWires (@SharkNewsWires) February 28, 2020

Riot police are moving in to counter the protestors. 

Looks like riot police moving into #Paris fire. #Trouble pic.twitter.com/5txgP5T5D8

— Ringo Lennon (@Eddie20937506) February 28, 2020

Gare de Lyon train station is one of six mainline railway station terminals in Paris. It’s estimated that 90 million passengers use the rail station each year. The shutdown of it could mean rail transportation in the city will be disrupted heading into the weekend. 

‘Major’ fire in #Paris as police evacuate Gare de #Lyon railway station #Parisfire https://t.co/kTW1H4J5PA pic.twitter.com/vN5WmYa6pV

— George Enis (@gorgenis) February 28, 2020