On January 12, 2019, the residents of rue de Trévise in Paris's 9th arrondissement (district) were woken by a huge explosion prompted by a gas leak. As they were rushed out of the building by the emergency services, the full horror became apparent: four dead, dozens injured and an entire neighbourhood destroyed. Six years later, some former residents are finally able to return home. But many are still waiting for repairs to be completed and want an explanation about what caused this tragic accident. We take a closer look in this edition of France in Focus.

At 8:30am on the morning of January 12, 2019, a strong smell of gas was coming from the Paris basement of 6, rue de Trévise. Minutes later, a fireball killed two firefighters and a resident of the building. Cars were overturned, and the impact also shattered the windows of the surrounding buildings; a Spanish tourist died in a hotel on the other side of the street. The fire quickly spread to the building's stairwell; one by one, its residents were evacuated.

Six years later, the neighbourhood has been rebuilt, local shops have reopened and the rue de Trévise is no longer a bomb site. But the trauma remains and some residents are struggling to return to a building they had to leave immediately on the day of the explosion. The ongoing battle with insurers to receive the compensation they were promised has resulted in feelings of frustration and despair. In January 2022, a €21 million agreement was signed to compensate those affected, but many of them have yet to receive anything.

Just who should be held responsible for the accident? According to some expert assessments, a water leak wore down the ground close to the building, causing the pavement to cave in, which then ruptured a gas pipe and caused the explosion. Yet there are conflicting reports. The building's management company is being investigated for failing to repair the leak, despite being aware of it since 2015. Paris City Hall has also been accused of neglecting its duty when it came to repairing the nearby pavement. As yet, no date has been set for a trial.