A woman has been arrested after at least 10 people were killed in a fire which broke out in a wealthy neighbourhood in Paris.

The blaze started in the early hours of Tuesday at an eight-storey building in the French capital's trendy 16th arrondissement.

One person has been seriously injured, while 30 others - including six firefighters - have suffered minor injuries.

The area is popular with tourists and is home to several upmarket shops and restaurants.

A 40-year-old woman, who lives in the the block in Rue Erlanger, was detained and French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said she was known to have had mental health issues.

Firefighters are still searching apartments for other victims, the city's fire service said.

Pictures showed flames leaping out of top-floor windows and firefighters climbing ladders to rescue terrified residents from thick black smoke.

In this image taken from video released by the Paris Fire Department, a fire rages through the top floors of an apartment building in Paris, France | Image: AP/Press Association Images

Clement Cognon, from the city's fire service, said: "We had to carry out many rescues, including some people who had taken refuge on the roofs."

He added that others had climbed out of windows to escape the flames.

Approximately 200 firefighters were at the scene and brought it under control five hours later.

The building is less than a mile from the Roland Garros stadium that hosts the French Open tennis tournament, and close to the popular Bois de Boulogne park on the city's western edge.

In this image taken from video released by the Paris Fire Department, firemen scale the top floors of an apartment building on fire in Paris, France | Image: AP/Press Association Images

Witness Jacqueline Ravier, who lives across the street, said flames were shooting from the top of the building as victims covered in smoke fled.

She said: "I heard a woman screaming in the street, crying and screaming for help."

She added that shaken residents were brought to her building and the one next door while firefighters continued to fight the flames.

"We feel the smoke," she said. "What's surprising is how long it lasted."

Roads around the building remain sealed off.

The blaze follows a fire caused by a powerful gas explosion last month that killed four people in the city's central 9th arrondissement.