The Notre Dame de Paris fire put out after 8 hours: Roof, one of the towers collapse, interior less affected

A strong fire has started in the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, one of France’s symbols, on Monday evening. The cause of the fire is not clear, but officials suspect that it might be related to the revamping works that the cathedral was currently undergoing. One of the towers and the roof collapsed, but the interior was not so affected. Paris Mayor, Anne Hidalgo, quoted by Le Monde said that there is a huge hole in the vault, where the tower has collapsed over the aisle, however, the altar and the cross are in one piece.

The tragedy occurred right on the World Day of Art, with French and world historians saying that we are witnessing the collapse “of the most visited historical monument in the world”, a Gothic monument watching over the past 850 years.

The firefighters have managed to put out the fire that started around 7 p.m. after eight hours of exhausting fight with the flame. A fireman was seriously injured. The workers involved in the rehabilitation works have been heard all night long.

A pair of bell towers immortalized in Victor Hugo’s tale “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” survived, along with the cathedral’s elaborate stonework facade. Officials said invaluable artifacts were saved, including the Crown of Thorns, believed to be a relic of the passion of Christ.

French President Emmanuel Macron who, faced with the Yellow Vests social crisis, was supposed to present his reform plan, has cancelled his speech and arrived on the scene, lamenting the destruction of an awe-inspiring building and wanting to see if there are victims or how much can be saved.