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Notre Dame fire: major incident at historic Paris landmark 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 were rushing to try to contain a fire that broke out around 4.50pm GMT at the cathedral, which police said began accidentally and could be linked to building work at the site.
Flames burst through the roof of the cathedral – one of France’s most visited places – and quickly engulfed the spire, which collapsed. The 850-year-old gothic masterpiece had been undergoing intense restoration work to help it better deal with the tests of time.
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.
Emergency services were trying to salvage the artwork and other priceless items stored there, the city’s deputy mayor Emmanuel Gregoire told BFMTV.
Notre Dame spokesman Andre Finot told French media: “Everything is burning, nothing will remain from the frame.”
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.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 leapt into the air beside the two bell towers, said a Reuters correspondent who witnessed the fire. No deaths or injuries were initially reported.
The fire department said a major operation was under way. A city hall spokesman said the area was being cleared.The fire department said a major operation was under way. A city hall spokesman said the area was being cleared.
On the left bank of the Seine thousands had gathered to watch the fire blazing. Orange flames were still towering from the roof as part of it had collapsed. Police had closed several metro stations and cordoned off the roads by the river.
Fire trucks could be seen speeding through Paris towards the scene on the Ile de la Cite - 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 elderly 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, who works from home in finance, said he had rushed 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 had collapsed.
“When I got here the roof was still there. I slowly watched it fall.”
The fire brigade were using cherry pickers to spray the building 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.
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. 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.”
France 2 television reported that police were treating the incident as an accident. 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. “The Paris fire service is trying to control the flames,” she wrote on Twitter.
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, 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.
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report
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