Fire at Notre Dame Cathedral extinguished

Fire at Notre Dame Cathedral fully extinguished

The fire that broke out at Notre Dame Cathedral, destroying the roof and causing the spire to collapse in front of horrified spectators, is the main story on the covers today, in both France and the rest of the world. All over the papers and Social Media, there are striking images of the blaze and moving stories of this symbol of European culture.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but the BBC reports that the cathedral was undergoing renovation. French officials are treating the fire as an accident. Today, the Fire has been brought under control by firefighters though officials warned there were still residual fires to put out.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, attended the scene and later gave a speech. As the fire crews said the landmark’s rectangular bell towers and structure of the building had been saved, the President promised the reconstruction of the temple and announced a fundraiser.

Some funding

At the same time, the City Council of Paris unlocked 50 million euros. And another batch of 10 million emergency funds has been announced. For his part, the magnate François-Henri Pinault, one of the great patrons of French art, and his father, François, will donate 100 million for works in the cathedral. Also, The group Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy announced the donation of 200 million euros. Foreign aid has also been offered. Several American organizations have already begun raising funds for the restoration of Notre Dame.

At Babylon Radio, we are shocked and truly sorry for the latest events. Seeing the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in flames yesterday has us -and the rest of the world – emotional. However, we are happy to hear reports that the main structure has remained intact, and that there has been no loss of life.

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