admin
NOTRE Dame has been saved from total destruction — but huge parts of the 850-year- old cathedral were obliterated by fire.
The inferno means one of Paris’ most recognisable landmarks has been left in ruins.
The world watched aghast as the cathedral that took hundreds of years to build looked as though it could collapse completely.
The nine-century-old structure was saved from total devastation by the efforts of more than 500 firefighters who battled the inferno for hours, gaining control of the blaze in time to save its two world-renowned towers.
But they were too late for its towering spire, which collapsed dramatically in flames.
Two thirds of the roof were also destroyed, but the fire is now described as under control.
Notre Dame fire: Footage shows moment Paris cathedral spire collapses after major blaze Firefighters say the fire may also have claimed Notre Dame’s iconic rose stained glass windows that had looked over the French capital for nearly nine centuries.
During a time when its worshippers should have been marking the holy week of Easter, Parisians and tourists could only watch in sorrow as the historic symbol of Paris and important Catholic site burned.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking outside the still-smoking cathedral, promised Notre Dame would rise from the ashes.
He said: “We will appeal to the greatest talents and we will rebuild Notre-Dame because that’s what the French are waiting for, because that’s what our history deserves, because it’s our deepest destiny”
He declared an international appeal would be launched to raise the funds to rebuild the cathedral, shortly after firefighters declared the structure would survive and the two towers had been saved.
Prosecutors in France believe the fire started accidentally based on their preliminary investigation. As crews begin to get the blaze under control, reports say a firefighter tackling the blaze was “seriously injured” amid the response to the massive fire.
Onlookers were seen singing hymns and applauding exhausted firefighters in moving scenes from Paris beaming out around the world.
— AFP
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter