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France

Massive Fire Breaks Out at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

Source: CNBC
April 15, 2019 at 13:49
Smoke billowed from the top of the cathedral as flames ripped through its roof and bell towers.


POINTS
  • A major fire broke out at the medieval Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on Monday afternoon, leading firefighters to clear the area around one of the city’s most visited landmarks.
  • It was not immediately clear what had caused the fire. France 2 television reported that police were treating the incident as an accident.
  • Notre-Dame was in the midst of renovations, with some sections under scaffolding, while bronze statues were removed last week for works.
A massive fire engulfed Paris’ famed Notre Dame Cathedral on Monday, as the city’s mayor and firefighters warned people to stay away from the area.  

Smoke billowed from the top of the cathedral as flames ripped through its roof and bell towers.

 
GP: Paris Notre Dame Cathedral on fire 190415
Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
Francois Guillot | AFP | Getty Images
 

It was not immediately clear what had caused the fire, while local media reported that police in the city were treating it as an accident.

The cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century and is famous for featuring in Victor Hugo’s classic novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,” attracts millions of tourists every year.

   

A major operation was under way, the fire department said, while a city hall spokesman said on Twitter that the area was being cleared.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, addressed the fire in a tweet early Monday afternoon.

 
Notre-Dame was in the midst of renovations, with some sections under scaffolding, while bronze statues were removed last week for works.
In a tweet the mayor of Paris confirmed the fire and called for called for people to remain away from the scene.
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