Notre-Dame fire: Gold Coast French community mourns after fire damages Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral

The Gold Coast’s French community is mourning the shocking damage to Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral which was engulfed by flames overnight.

NICOEL Richard-Tarnac woke in the early hours of this morning to a sight she had never dreamt she would see - Paris icon Notre-Dame engulfed by flames.

The Southport resident, born in France, rose at 4am to watch a scheduled speech by French president Emmanuel Macron but instead witnessed the fire ripping through the 856-year-old Catholic Cathedral.

“I got up to listen to the president speak but it was cancelled because of this terrible event,” the teacher said.

Picture of Paris-born Gold Coast French teacher Nicoel Richard-Tarnec. Picture: Tim Marsden

“This is a tragedy. Notre-Dame is something which is important not just for Paris but for France as a whole.

“They will rebuild it for sure - it will cost many millions of dollars but this is part of our history and we cannot leave it as ruins, especially not in the middle of Paris.

Flames and smoke billow from Notre-Dame Cathedral. (Photo by ludovic MARIN / AFP)

Ms Richard-Tarnac, at teacher with Alliance Francaise Gold Coast, said she had fond memories of visiting Notre-Dame.

“I went there many years ago. It was a visit when I was a child and I remember it well. It was quite incredible.

“It is a place which is one of the most visited in all of Paris. When tourists come to Paris they go to La Notre Dame.”

Nicoel Richard-Tarnec saw the coverage of the fire early this morning. Pic Tim Marsden

The fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday morning (AEST) and quickly destroyed the cathedral’s lead and wooden roof plus its spire which dramatically collapsed.

While many of its stained glass windows and treasures are understood to have been destroyed, the stone ceiling known as the vault remained largely intact and protected much of the building’s interior from the flames.

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The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral (Photo by Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT / AFP)

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate extended his condolences to the city’s French community in the wake of the tragedy.

“Our thoughts are with all those who have been touched by this terrible event. The cathedral was, and is, a striking religious and cultural symbol for all of France. I understand it attracted 13 million annual visitors.

“It is pleasing to hear the French President already committing to rebuilding Notre-Dame. I expect the world will show its generosity and contribute to this historic restoration project.’’