Notre-Dame cathedral was scarred by an extensive fire today that collapsed part of its delicate spire, and filled the Parisian skies with smoke. The fire broke out about 6:30 pm.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. An Interior Ministry official said that no one had been killed or wounded in the blaze. Approximately 400 firefighters had been deployed to fight the fire. “We’re not sure of being able to stop the spread of the fire in the north belfry,” the spokesman told television interviewers, adding that the fire had started in the cathedral’s attic. “I leave you to imagine, in that case, the extent of the damage.”
A testament to medieval Gothic architecture built in the 12th and 13th centuries, Notre-Dame, is visited by about 30,000 people a day and around 13 million people a year. Thousands stood on the banks of the Seine river and watched in shock as the fire razed the cathedral’s wooden roof and brought down part of the spire. Video filmed by onlookers and shared on social media showed smoke and flames billowing from the top of the cathedral.
Firefighters at the scene say all efforts are being directed towards saving the artwork at the back of the cathedral and preventing the collapse of its northern tower. The cathedral is currently undergoing extensive renovation work. Last week, 16 copper statues representing the Twelve Apostles and four evangelists were lifted with a crane so that the spire could be renovated.
