VIDEO: Paris is engulfed in fire and smoke as protests erupt in France

More than 55,000 people took to the streets of Paris on Thursday in protest against pension reforms, according to BFMTV, citing the police prefecture, as reported by RIA Novosti.

"According to the Paris police prefecture, 57,000 people participated in the protest held in Paris on Thursday," the channel reported. It noted that the number of demonstrators in the capital decreased compared to the previous protest on March 28, when 93,000 French citizens took to the streets.

Meanwhile, trade unions claim that 400,000 people participated in Paris. Previously, the unions had estimated 450,000 participants in the last nationwide demonstration.

According to the French Ministry of the Interior, 570,000 people participated in protests across the country, which is also lower than the last time, when 740,000 organized protests.