Paris cathedral blaze , Notre Dame Cathedral fire ‘completely under control’, main structure saved

A massive fire that engulfed Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris on Monday is completely under control. 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 medieval structure. 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 cathedral 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.

The 12th-century cathedral was undergoing renovations, with some sections under scaffolding. “A terrible fire is underway at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris,” Mayor Anne Hidalgo said on Twitter.

Expressing pain, French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted, “Our Lady of Paris in flames. The emotion of a whole nation. Thought for all Catholics and for all French. Like all our countrymen, I’m sad tonight to see this part of us burn”. The President has also postponed his televised speech to the nation following the blaze incident.