French gas blast crashes building onto firemen

PARIS, France (CNN) -- One fireman was killed and at least 27 other people were injured Thursday when gas leaking from a downtown street in the Rhone Valley city of Lyon exploded.

Authorities said firemen answered a call about the smell of leaking gas shortly before noon local time ( 6 a.m. ET) in the center of the city.

As they were investigating, the gas exploded, sending the facade of a building crumbling down on firemen.

Among the injured are three people in critical condition, officials said.

Initial reports indicate construction workers nearby may have accidentally severed a natural gas line. The Interior Minister, Michele Alliot-Marie went to the scene. E-mail to a friend

CNN Correspondent Jim Bittermann contributed to this report