‘Terrible’ fire engulfs 850-year-old Notre Dame cathedral in Paris as flames erupt from the roof and massive plume of smoke sweeps across the city
- Officials in Paris said a large operation had been launched in an attempt to bring the raging fire under control
- Pictures from around the city posted on social media showed flames licking up Notre Dame’s famous spire
- The fire was first reported at 5.50pm (GMT) on Monday and the building was evacuated soon afterwards
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Firefighters are battling a massive blaze which broke out at the world-famous Notre Dame cathedral in Paris this evening.
Pictures posted on social media showed enormous plumes of smoke billowing into the city’s skyline and flames engulfing large sections of the historic building.
According to French newspaper Le Monde, the fire broke out in the attic of the monument before spreading across the roof.
A spokesperson for the cathedral said the blaze was first reported at 5.50pm (GMT) and the building was evacuated soon after.
Officials in Paris said the fire could be linked to renovation works being carried out at the cathedral.
Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo labelled the fire ‘terrible’ despite the extent of the damage being unclear at this stage.
The cathedral is one the finest example of French Gothic architecture in Europe, and one of the most visited buildings in the world.
Notre Dame – which means ‘Our Lady’ – was build in 1160 and completed by 1260, and has been modified on a number of occasions throughout the century.
It is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Paris, and is visited by some 12million people every year.
The blaze could be seen from across Paris on Monday night as officials in the city said a major operation was in place to put it out
Enormous plumes of smoke were seen rising from the Cathedral as horrified onlookers gathered in a nearby square
Pictures from across Paris showed the historic cathedral ablaze on Friday evening after the fire reportedly broke out in the building’s attic