Black smoke has been seen rising from the building nearby to the Palais Garnier opera house on Place de l'Opera in Paris. There are also visible flames in two windows of the building, through which smoke is billowing out.

       It is understood that 100 firefighters were called to the scene of the fire.

       People are being ordered to "avoid the area and do not unnecessarily clutter emergency lines" by the fire services.

       The building is located on boulevard des Capucines.

       The area surrounding the building has also been cordoned off.

       No casualties have been reported so far, but localized disruptions are apparently likely in the area, according to Crisis 24.

       Crisis 24 also advised passers-by to "exercise caution in the impact area" and "allow additional time for travel".

       The cause of the fire and any damage it may have caused are not yet known.

       However, Wladimir Garcin-Berson, a journalist working for French newspaper Le Figaro, said that the fire affected several floors in the building above the Benetton and the Five Guys on the boulevard.

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       According to his report, firefighters were called at around 10.30 am and were seen dealing with the blaze on the second floor of the building.

       A firefighter told local reporters that the blaze started on the third floor, but hit parts of the fourth floor as well.

       They said that their operation is likely to last up to four hours.

       A local source who witnessed the fire, @KynigopoulosA, wrote "Major fire at the moment in Paris this morning near the Opera".

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       Another witness, @WeAreTheNewz, sharing a video of the blaze, wrote: "Fire breaks out near Place de L'Opera in Paris. Paris has had its fair share of fires in recent times."

       The Prefecture de Police said in a statement on Twitter: "Firemen are intervening, avoid the area."

       A clip posted by French TV channel BFMTV shows emergency services at the scene of the blaze on Boulevard des Capucines, near Place de l'Opéra, where Palais Garnier is located.

       The blaze comes less than three years after a major fire broke out at the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris.

       By the time the fire was extinguished the building's spire had collapsed, most of its roof had been destroyed and its upper walls were severely damaged.