PARIS — Two persons are reported missing after an explosion in Paris on Wednesday destroyed a constructing that was home to the Paris American Academy school, French officials said.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said 37 people were injured, 4 of them seriously, within the blast, the reason for which has yet to be determined. Firefighters will work through the night to look for potential victims, he said.

“We will not be certain that these persons are missing,” said Darmanin. “It’s due to this fact possible that we are going to find bodies or people who find themselves still alive tonight.”

The explosion occurred just before 5 p.m. local time at 277 Rue Saint-Jacques, in keeping with Paris police chief Laurent Nunez. The hearth is under control, he added. The blast happened during Paris Men’s Fashion Week, but it surely was not known if there have been any casualties amongst attendees.

Photographs of the scene showed the Seventeenth-century, historically classified constructing has been completely destroyed. The explosion was so powerful that it blew out the windows of neighboring apartments and set cars ablaze, Darmanin said.

As much as 325 firefighters headed to the scene, while 200 law enforcement officials helped to evacuate dozens of residents, he added. The Paris public prosecutor’s office has ordered an inquiry, the minister reported. 

The Paris American Academy was founded by U.S. musician Richard Roy in 1965 and offers courses in fashion, interior design, tremendous arts and artistic writing to international students, in keeping with the varsity’s website. American model Dorian Leigh Parker helped establish the style department, PAA president Peter Carman stated on the location.

The six-level Pavillon du Val de Grâce, where most classes are held, was recently renovated, in keeping with the varsity. Darmanin said there have been no reported issues with the constructing.

“Contrary to what has been reported in some quarters, to our knowledge, there was no alert within the run-up to this explosion,” he said. Witnesses reported a powerful smell of gas in the realm, in keeping with local media reports.