A major fire has engulfed the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, one of France’s most famous landmarks.
The catastrophic fire at Paris’s Notre-Dame Cathedral has left a nation mourning its cultural and historic ‘epicentre’ today as French police now investigate whether or not the blaze was caused by accident.
Hundreds of heroic firefighters tackled the fire through the night , battling to stop the landmark’s complete destruction after the iconic spire was seen crashing to the ground yesterday evening.
The fire, which broke out as the last crowds of tourists ended visits at around 7pm local time, was finally declared to be ‘completely under control’ nearly nine hours later.
Police will now carry out an investigation into ‘accidental destruction by fire’, indicating authorities are currently treating the blaze as a tragic accident and not arson or terrorism.
Officials say it could be linked to the renovation work that began after cracks appeared in the stone, sparking fears the structure could become unstable.
Hundreds of millions of euros have been pledged to help rebuild Notre-Dame after a devastating fire partially destroyed the cathedral. French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to reconstruct the historic building even as the fire still burned, while two French business magnates had pledged about €300m ($339m; £259m) between them by early Tuesday.
The fire, declared fully extinguished some 15 hours after it began, ravaged the 850-year-old building’s roof and caused its spire to collapse.
But firefighters who worked through the night managed to save the Paris landmark’s main stone structure, including its two towers.
Offers of help with the reconstruction have also poured in from around the globe, with European Council President Donald Tusk calling on EU member states to rally round.