A fire broke out on Thursday on the spire of the medieval Notre Dame Cathedral in the French city of Rouen. City Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol confirmed the incident, stating that all public resources have been mobilized to respond to the situation. The origin of the fire is currently unknown.
French authorities have indicated that the fire started during renovation works on the cathedral's spire. Fortunately, there have been no reports of casualties, though the extent of the damage is still unclear.
The Rouen cathedral's spire had been surrounded by scaffolding and a protective white cover for several weeks due to ongoing renovation activities. As a precautionary measure, the cathedral was evacuated, and emergency services are actively engaged at the scene. A security cordon has been established around the building to manage the situation.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Rouen is renowned for its French medieval Gothic architecture and dates back to the 12th century. It holds significant historical and cultural value, having also been immortalized in paintings by Claude Monet during the 19th century.
This incident comes after the devastating fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2019, which was also linked to renovation works.
