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Notre Dame fire: Paris cathedral devastated by ferocious blaze Notre Dame fire: Paris cathedral devastated by ferocious blaze
(32 minutes later)
Notre Dame cathedral in Paris has been devastated by a ferocious blaze that has destroyed the spire of the centuries-old landmark. Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has been devastated by a ferocious blaze that has destroyed the spire of the centuries-old landmark.
Firefighters were rushing to try to contain a fire that has broken out at the cathedral, which police said began accidentally and was linked to building work at the site. Firefighters rushed to try to contain a fire that broke out at about 5.50pm local time (16.50 GMT), which police said began accidentally and could be linked to building work at the cathedral.
Flames burst through the roof of the cathedral – one of France’s most visited places – and quickly engulfed the spire, which collapsed. A church spokesman said the entire wooden interior of the 12th century landmark was burning and was likely to be destroyed. The 850-year-old gothic masterpiece had been undergoing restoration work to help it better withstand the tests of time.
Smoke could be seen billowing from the top of the medieval cathedral, considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in France and one of Paris’s most-visited monuments. A huge plume of smoke wafted across the city and ash fell over a large area. Flames burst through the roof of the cathedral – one of France’s most visited places – and quickly engulfed the spire, which collapsed.
No injuries were initially reported. The wood and lead spire was built during a restoration in the mid-19th century, according to the cathedral’s website.
The fire department said a major operation was under way. A city hall spokesman said the area was being cleared. A cathedral spokesman said the entire wooden interior of the 12th-century landmark was burning and was likely to be destroyed.
Emergency services were trying to salvage the artwork and other priceless items stored there, the city’s deputy mayor, Emmanuel Grégoire, told BFMTV.
“There are a lot of art works inside...it’s a real tragedy,” Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo told reporters at the scene.
André Finot, a spokesman for the cathedral, told French media: “Everything is burning, nothing will remain from the frame.”
“Basically the whole rooftop is gone. I see no hope for the building,” said witness Jacek Poltorak, watching the fire from a fifth-floor balcony two blocks from the southern facade of the cathedral.
Smoke could be seen billowing from the top of the medieval cathedral, considered one of the finest examples of gothic architecture in France and one of Paris’s most-visited monuments. A huge plume of smoke wafted across the city and ash fell over a large area.
No deaths or injuries were initially reported.
The fire department said a major operation was under way. Buildings around the cathedral were evacuated. A city hall spokesman said the area was being cleared.
On the left bank of the Seine thousands gathered to watch the fire blazing. Orange flames still towered from the roof after part of it collapsed. Police closed several metro stations and cordoned off roads by the river.
Fire trucks could be seen speeding through Paris towards the scene on the Île de la Cité, an island in the Seine at the heart of Paris.
Some people in the crowd were crying, and others started singing hymns. “I can’t believe what I’m seeing,” said one older woman, who did not wish to give her name. “If this burns down, it’s a piece of history that goes.”
The crowd could hear loud bangs as part of the roof appeared to collapse.
Alexis, 35, said he had hurried to the scene after seeing the first images on TV. “I rushed down as soon as I saw what was happening. I never thought it would be this depressing.”
Over the course of an hour, he had watched as the flames rose from the roof and sections of the roof collapsed. “When I got here the roof was still there. I slowly watched it fall.”
Camille, 20, from Normandy, a history student at the Sorbonne, stood at the police cordon. “There’s a feeling of total sadness and also anger. It’s our heritage. People in the crowd have been singing hymns. Whether you’re Christian or not, part of our history is going up in smoke.”
The fire brigade used cherry pickers to spray the building with water from beyond the bell towers.
Emmanuel Macron cancelled a planned speech to the nation in light of the “terrible fire”, according to an official at the president’s Élysée office.Emmanuel Macron cancelled a planned speech to the nation in light of the “terrible fire”, according to an official at the president’s Élysée office.
He tweeted that his thoughts were with “all Catholics and all French people”. “Like all our countrymen, I’m sad tonight to see this part of us burn.”He tweeted that his thoughts were with “all Catholics and all French people”. “Like all our countrymen, I’m sad tonight to see this part of us burn.”
The Paris mayor, Anne Hidalgo, said on Twitter that firefighters were still trying to contain the fire and urged residents to stay away from the security perimeter. Hidalgo, the mayor, tweeted that firefighters were still trying to contain the fire and urged residents to stay away from the security perimeter. “The Paris fire service is trying to control the flames,” she said.
France 2 television reported that police were treating the incident as an accident. The Paris prosecutor’s office said it had started an inquiry into the fire.France 2 television reported that police were treating the incident as an accident. The Paris prosecutor’s office said it had started an inquiry into the fire.
The cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century, attracts millions of tourists every year. The cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century and played a role in Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, attracts millions of tourists every year.
Notre Dame was in the midst of renovations, with some sections under scaffolding, and bronze statues were removed last week for works.Notre Dame was in the midst of renovations, with some sections under scaffolding, and bronze statues were removed last week for works.
London “stands in sorrow” with Paris over the devastating fire, the British capital’s mayor Sadiq Khan said Monday.
“Heartbreaking scenes of Notre Dame cathedral in flames,” Khan tweeted. “London stands in sorrow with Paris today, and in friendship always.”
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this reportReuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report
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