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World reacts to the devastating fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

The French president has vowed to rebuild Notre Dame as tearful Parisians and dumbstruck tourists gather to watch the devastation of a beloved monument.

Phoebe LoomesPhoebe Loomes
@dollyybird
3 min read
April 16, 2019 - 11:08AM
Notre Dame fire: Watch the devastating moment the spire collapses

Shocked crowds gathered to watch on in disbelief as one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks was engulfed by a devastating fire.

Locals and tourists gathered across Paris as an inferno rapidly took hold of the Notre Dame Cathedral today, destroying parts of the historic Gothic building, including its roof, downing its iconic spire.

Shocked Parisians wept openly on the street as firefighters battled flames engulfing the beloved 850-year-old landmark. As the fire continued to burn, crowds of distressed locals and dazed tourists stood together at the foot of the building, singing hymns.

“I’m devastated,” local resident Elizabeth Caille told the New York Times. “It’s a symbol of Paris. It’s a symbol of Christianity. It’s a whole world that is collapsing.”

Another Parisian told London’s Telegraph: “People are just in a state of total shock. It’s almost like a cultural September 11.”

Mourners gathered on the banks of the Seine River as flames destroyed the roof of the building.
Mourners gathered on the banks of the Seine River as flames destroyed the roof of the building.
People said prayers in front of the cathedral and wept as they watched the building burn. Picture: Christophe Ena
People said prayers in front of the cathedral and wept as they watched the building burn. Picture: Christophe Ena
People gathered on the banks of the Seine river, watching the destruction. Picture: Thomas Samson
People gathered on the banks of the Seine river, watching the destruction. Picture: Thomas Samson
Emotional crowds stood together in disbelief and anguish. Picture: Eric Feferberg
Emotional crowds stood together in disbelief and anguish. Picture: Eric Feferberg

An emotional French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to rebuild Notre Dame which he called the “epicentre of our lives”.

With tears in his eyes Mr Macron said “the worst has been avoided”, thanking the work of firefighters, who saved the cathedral’s two towers and facade. The French leader vowed to draw on “the best talent” to rebuild the rest.

In an emotional speech, Mr Macron thanked the firefighters as they continued to battle the blaze, and announced a global fund would be set up to pay for the restoration of Notre Dame.

French luxury goods billionaire François Pinault has already pledged €100 million towards the restoration of the building, according to AFP.

The blaze threatened to bring down the historic edifice of the building, leaving the world reeling over damage to the building that has been described as the soul of a nation at the centre of its capital.

The fire has partly destroyed part of the roof of the 850-year old cathedral, which is a UNESCO world heritage landmark.

In the early evening, horrified onlookers watched the tallest spire of the building collapse, as flames, believed to have started an attic room in the building, ripped apart the upper levels of the 12th century building.

Read more: Thousands watch iconic Notre Dame cathedral burn in the heart of Paris: ‘Everything is burning’

The fire began about 6.50 local time on Monday night.

As midnight approached, the 400 firefighters on the scene managed to get control over the destructive fire.

Paris fire brigade chief Jean-Claude Gallet said “we can consider that the main structure of Notre-Dame has been saved and preserved” as well as the two main towers.

Deputy Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, also present at the scene, said that for the first time “the fire had decreased in intensity” but still urged “extreme caution” for the ongoing situation.

Local firefighters said the cause of the blaze was not immediately clear, but was “potentially linked” to ongoing renovations at the 850-year-old monument.

Police have launched an investigation into the fire, which is reported to be focusing on an “involuntary” cause rather than a criminal act.

Read More: How did the Notre Dame Cathedral blaze start?

The mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo said: “No words can describe the pain I feel in seeing Notre Dame ravaged by flames. Tonight, all Parisians and French mourn this emblem of our common history.”

World leaders sent their thoughts and prayers to France on learning of the devastating fire.

As the flames tore through the 12th-century cathedral, Spain’s Prime Minister offered France the help of his country in the recovery and reconstruction of the building.

The fire is a “catastrophe for France, for Spain and for Europe,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted, adding that the flames are destroying “850 years of history, architecture, painting and sculpture.”

Federal opposition leader Bill Shorten told reporters in Melbourne, “I think Australia should contribute to a restoration fund.”

“Notre Dame doesn’t just belong to Paris or France, it belongs to the world. I think we, all of us who’ve enjoyed that architecture, that history, we too should perhaps rally around and help Paris and Notre Dame.”

US President Donald Trump called it horrible and suggested ways to help extinguish the blaze.

But his idea was quickly shot down by the national fire service.

“Hundreds of firemen of the Paris Fire Brigade are doing everything they can to bring the terrible #NotreDame fire under control. All means are being used, except for water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, could lead to the collapse of the entire structure of the cathedral,” France’s civil defence agency, Sécurité Civile, tweeted.

The Notre Dame Cathedral, situated on an island in the Seine River in the heart of Paris, is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, drawing some 13 million people each year. The fire’s emotional impact was widely felt.

People from many parts of the world described in Facebook posts how they cried when they heard about the fire.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/world-reacts-to-the-devastating-fire-at-notre-dame-cathedral-in-paris/news-story/073f7d4c96615d568645bc3da16d6be7