The iconic towers of Notre Dame Cathedral have been saved, French fire official says
By James McAuley and James McAuley Foreign correspondent focusing on French and European politics and culture Email Bio Follow Griff Witte Griff Witte Europe-focused correspondent with extensive experience in the Middle East and South Asia Email Bio Follow April 15 at 5:24 PM PARIS — The central spire, roof and much of the interior of Notre Dame Cathedral were obliterated Monday as a catastrophic fire spread within minutes through a building that has stood at the heart of Paris for more than...
The rest of the city seemed to stand still as the fire raged, with thousands of passerby watching from the streets below. Many were in tears, looking on in stunned silence. Some filmed the scenes on smartphones and broadcast them across the globe. Fire engulfs the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Macron later visited the scene, watching with others as the structure was engulfed.
“We express closeness to the French Catholics and the people of Paris and we assure our prayers for the firemen and those who are doing everything possible to face this dramatic situation,” the statement read. Donia Hammami, 35, a trade expert in Paris, ran to the scene from her gym nearby when she saw the reports of the blaze. She was in tears in the crowd, watching the cathedral burn.
Throughout French cultural history, Notre Dame has served as a powerful symbol of Paris and of France’s cultural heritage. The writer Anatole France once described it as “heavy as a hippopotamus” but “light as a butterfly.” The painter Marc Chagall depicted it in his canvases, distorted in dream-like haze.
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