Fire burns down Paris's oldest covered food market

A fire has destroyed the French capital's oldest covered food market, a popular street food venue named after red-clad orphans, authorities said on Monday.

The Marché Couvert des Enfants Rouges in the Marais district has existed since 1615, and draws its name from the red outfits that orphans wore at a hospital near the market until 1772.

Food & Wine ranked it fifth worldwide for street food this year, after other eating spots in London, Bangkok, the French city of Lyon and Mexico City.

"The market was completely destroyed" overnight from Sunday to Monday, Lieutenant Colonel Pierre de Bouvier told reporters on site in the early hours of the morning.

"Nothing remains of the covered market," he said, adding that it's metal structure had "partially collapsed" inside.

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One firefighter was lightly injured in the blaze, De Bouvier said.

The mayor of the central Paris district, Ariel Weil, said he was relieved the fire was under control and would not spread further.

"The worst has been avoided," he said. "No neighbouring buildings have been affected."