Paris: A massive fire engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral here on Monday and is completely under control currently. It is partially extinguished and there are residual fires to put out, French firefighters spokesman said. The fire gutted the roof and the spire of the 850-year-old UNESCO world heritage landmark.
The 12th-century cathedral was undergoing renovations, with some sections under scaffolding.
The firefighters managed to save the shell of the stone structure and its two main bell towers from collapse. Huge clouds of yellow smoke could be seen billowing over the eight centuries-old cathedrals as the fire raged throughout the evening. The cause of the incident, which was being treated as an accident by the police, was not clear.
Around 400 firefighters battled into the night to control the flames, declaring in the early hours of Tuesday that the fire was under control, around nine hours after it broke out.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed relief that “the worst had been avoided” in a blaze that had at one point threatened the entire edifice, and left France in shock over the damage to a building described as the soul of the nation. He has vowed to rebuild the medieval structure.
Also Read: World’s largest plane completes successful flight
Kalinga AI