Massive fire breaks out at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
A massive fire has engulfed the 750-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, destroying its spire and roof. The fire is believed to have been caused by renovation work on the upper part of the cathedral. The fire has spread to the north tower and is also threatening to destroy it.
According to international news agencies, Notre Dame Cathedral in the French capital has been engulfed in fire.
The Paris Fire Department confirmed the news on Monday evening, April 15.
Images posted online showed flames and thick black smoke rising from the church's roof. French television also broadcast footage of the fire.
The fire started in the upper part of the building. Online images show the church's spire and part of the roof have collapsed.
On Monday evening, about three hours after the fire started, the fire was said to have spread to the north tower. The French Interior Ministry said it was unlikely that this tower would be saved either. In other words, most of the church had been destroyed.
"Everything is burning," said Notre Dame spokesman Andre Fino. "Nothing will remain of the timbers under the roof, some of which date back to the 19th century and some to the 13th century."
There are many precious historical and artistic works in this church. There is no news yet of extensive damage inside. The entire wooden structure of the church was burned in the fire.
It is not yet clear whether the fire will spread to the church's dome, which holds up the entire body of the building.
While fire crews rushed to the church, thousands of Parisians stood on the banks of the Seine River, stunned to witness the destruction of part of this valuable, unique, thousands-year-old historical monument in their city, which they consider the heart of Paris.
The fire, which started at around 6:50 p.m. local time on the ground floor of the church, may have been caused by renovation work, AFP reported.
The Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the causes of the fire.
"A terrible fire has engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral," Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote on Twitter. A spokesman for the mayor said the cathedral grounds had been evacuated.
Notre Dame Cathedral, located in the heart of Paris, is one of the city's main tourist attractions, receiving millions of visitors every year.
The history of this church dates back to the mid-12th century. It took about 200 years to complete the building. The building, whose length, width and height are 127, 40 and 33 meters respectively, has a unique architecture in the Gothic style.
Source: DW
