1 dead, 14 injured in pyrotechnics accident at Paris arena

One person was killed and 14 others were injured at a Paris arena when pyrotechnics to be used in a play about the French Revolution blew up, officials say. About 100 firefighters and a dozen fire engines were required to extinguish the blaze after a technician accidentally ignited the fireworks, the BBC reported. The blast occurred at the 4,500-seat Palais des Sports before the play, "1789, The Lovers of the Bastille," had begun. All of those injured were either cast members or stagehands. A power tool being used too close to the pyrotechnics may have caused the explosion, the report said. A production worker suffered a heart attack and died after the blast, Radio France Internationale reported. Four other people were seriously injured and 10 received minor injuries. The explosion collapsed a wall and part of the ceiling at the arena. The shock wave from the blast was felt in nearby buildings. The play's weekend performances were canceled.