By FRANCE HISTORIC CATHEDRAL, NORTE DAME GOES UP IN FLAMES
As you read this, France is still under shock as thousands of Parisians watched earlier in horror from behind police cordons, a ferocious fire outbreak that has left the landmark Notre Dame Cathedral a shadow of itself, destroying its spire and spreading to the historic bell towers.
BlackBox Nigeria learnt from Reuters that firefighters battled to contain the fire, which began at 5.50pm local time (16.50 GMT), with police saying it began accidentally and may be linked to building work at the cathedral.
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The 850-year-old gothic masterpiece had been undergoing restoration work to help it better withstand the tests of time.
In a statement by the Spokesman for the Cathedral, André Finot, there are very slim chances that anything will survive from the inferno.
In his words:
“Everything is burning, nothing will remain from the frame.”
BlackBox Nigeria also gathered that, flames burst through the roof of the cathedral which represents one of France’s most visited places and quickly engulfed the spire leading to its collapse. The spire was made of wood and lead and was built during a restoration in the mid-19th century.
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Further on how the building was engulfed by fire, Reuters further revealed that a huge plume of smoke wafted across the city and ash fell over a large area. No deaths or injuries were initially reported.
Findings further revealed that France’s President, Emmanuel Macron cancelled a planned speech to the nation in light of the “terrible fire”, according to an official at the president’s Élysée office.
He tweeted that his thoughts were with “all Catholics and all French people”. “Like all our countrymen, I’m sad tonight to see this part of us burn.”
Hidalgo, the mayor, tweeted that firefighters were still trying to contain the fire and urged residents to stay away from the security perimeter. “The Paris fire service is trying to control the flames,” she said.
Notre Dame, which attracts millions of tourists every year, was in the midst of renovations, with some sections under scaffolding, and bronze statues were removed last week for works.
