In a dramatic turn of events, the historic Rouen Cathedral in northern France has been engulfed in flames, with smoke billowing from the spire of the 12th-century Gothic structure.
The fire broke out around midday on Thursday, as the cathedral was undergoing renovation work. The local prefecture and emergency fire service were immediately alerted, and firefighters rushed to the scene to contain the blaze.
Images from France's BFM television channel showed a thick plume of smoke rising from the cathedral's central spire, as onlookers in the streets watched in horror. In the later footage, the smoke could still be seen through a gap in the white cover encircling the scaffolding around the spire, but it was no longer rising in a dark column, indicating that the firefighters' efforts were starting to pay off.
Rouen Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, writing on X, said that all public resources had been mobilized to quell the fire, though the origin of the blaze remains unknown. The local prefecture, which exercises state authority in the region, confirmed that the cathedral had been evacuated and a security cordon was in place around the building.
The Rouen Cathedral, one of France's finest, is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, dating back to the 12th century. It has been a source of pride and inspiration for the people of Rouen and has been immortalized in the works of the Impressionist painter Claude Monet, who captured its beauty in a series of paintings in the 19th century.
The cathedral's history is marked by both triumphs and tragedies. In 1822, a lightning strike started a fire that destroyed the wood and lead Renaissance spire of the central tower. The new iron spire, completed six decades later, stood at 151 meters (500 feet) and made the cathedral the world's tallest building for a short time.
The Rouen blaze is reminiscent of the devastating 2019 fire at Paris's Notre-Dame Cathedral, which also started during renovation work. The French people and the international community will be closely watching the efforts to contain the flames and preserve this architectural gem, which has stood as a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage for over 800 years.
So far, there are no reports of casualties, and the extent of the damage remains unclear. The local authorities have advised people to stay away from the area to allow the emergency responders to work unhindered. As the firefighters continue their battle to save the Rouen Cathedral, the world holds its breath, hoping that this historic landmark will emerge from the flames unscathed.
