The spire of France's famous Rouen Cathedral in Normandy was engulfed in flames on Thursday, July 11, leading to an evacuation, according to local officials.
The fire was brought under control, and the “origin is unknown at this point,” mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol initially said.
Images shared on social media platforms captured thick smoke billowing from the 12th-century gothic building, which is the tallest church in France and one of the tallest cathedrals in the world.
The spire of France's famous Rouen Cathedral was engulfed in flames on Thursday, July 11
Image credits: Andréa Villiers
Image credits: David Oliva
"A fire has started on the spire of Rouen Cathedral. Origin unknown at this stage. All public resources are mobilised," the mayor said in a message shared on X.
About 90 minutes after the tweet, Stephane Gouezec, of the Seine-Maritime firefighters, said the source of the fire was located, and the flames had been quelled.
The fire was tackled by around 70 firefighters and 40 fire engines at the scene.
He noted that the crew was working toward ensuring that there were no more “hot spots” remaining.
Around 70 firefighters and 40 fire engines rushed to the scene to tackle the fire
Image credits: visegrad24
Patrick Waeselynck, who was sitting on the terrace of a cafe nearby, recalled hearing people shout “fire” during the Thursday incident.
"I turn around and I see the cathedral spire, the tarpaulin which was protecting the restoration work, which was burning, big flames, black smoke," he told BFM television, as quoted by Reuters.
"The first thing we thought was what happened in Paris, it was a shock of course,” he added. “But the police arrived, they set up a security perimeter, the firefighters arrived."
The Rouen Cathedral is considered a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and graces the heart of Rouen, France.
Known for its stunning façade and towering spires, it has inspired artists like Claude Monet, who famously captured its beauty in a series of paintings.
A witness recalled hearing people shouting "fire" while he was sitting at a nearby cafe
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The entire structure was constructed over several centuries, and it was even the tallest building in the world between 1876 and 1880.
The cathedral was undergoing extensive restoration when the Thursday fire broke out.
The fire was first spotted by construction workers, who quickly raised the alarm and informed authorities.
Images of smoke billowing out from the centuries-old structure was reminiscent of the 2019 fire that severely damaged the Notre Dame in Paris
Image credits: theinformant_x
Images of the dark plume of smoke rising from the spire was reminiscent of the 2019 fire at Notre Dame in Paris. A blaze in the wooden frame of the roof caused severe damage to the world-famous cathedral.
Memories of the fire still remain strong in the minds of Parisians after the 2019 fire caused the spire to topple and the roof to collapse.
The Notre Dame is slated to reopen in December after years of repairs.
Several people online felt a sense of déjà vu following the news of the fire
