A fire broke out in the spire of the famous Gothic cathedral in Rouen, France, forcing the evacuation, local officials said.
Image posted by Hyun on X, Out It shows black smoke rising from the canopy and scaffolding at the top of the building, which is about 150 metres (495 feet) tall.
According to officials, the fire has now been put out.
Mayor Nicolas Meyer-Rossignol said the cause of the fire was “currently unknown,” adding that “all public resources” were being mobilized to combat it.
About 70 firefighters and 40 fire trucks were involved in efforts to tackle the incident. flameFire Chief Stefan Guezek told local media.
The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary has been evacuated and a security perimeter has been put in place, local authorities said.
There were no reports of casualties and the extent of damage to the building was unknown, according to local authorities.
“The fire broke out at the top of the spire, which is made of metal, not wood,” Sen's marine ministry told AFP.
Rouen Cathedral, which featured in several works by 19th-century Impressionist painter Claude Monet, is undergoing extensive restoration work.
According to the official website, the building was built over several centuries, with parts of the building dating back to the 12th century, making it over 900 years old. Between 1876 and 1880, it was the tallest building in the world.
In 2019, a fire in the wooden roof frame caused extensive damage to Paris’ world-famous Notre Dame Cathedral. The French capital’s landmark building is set to officially reopen in December after years of repairs.
