A massive blaze erupted at the historic Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris Monday — sending the monument’s spire up in flames and then toppling to the ground as onlookers watched in horror.
The fire broke out on scaffolding near the top the 850-year-old building just before 7 p.m, local time, according to Le Monde.
The conflagration roared through the building’s church and up its main spire, which collapsed about an hour later as firefighters battled the blaze with water cannons.
“I am sad tonight to see this part of all of us burn,” French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted.
A spokesman for the cathedral said the entire wooden interior of the building will likely be destroyed.
“Everything is burning, nothing will remain from the frame,” Notre Dame spokesman Andre Finot told local media.
Paris police said no deaths had been reported as of Friday evening.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, but officials say it could be related to a $6.8 million renovation project that was underway there.
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