Fire breaks out at Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris
Updated | By AFP
A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on Monday afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year, where renovations are currently underway.
Fire trucks could be seen speeding through Paris towards the scene on the Ile de la Cite -- an island in the Seine at the heart of Paris.
The Paris police department in a tweet called on residents to avoid the area and to "make way for rescue vehicles".
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo in a tweet described it as a "terrible fire".
"The Paris fire service is trying to control the flames," she wrote on Twitter, asking residents to respect the security cordon thrown up around the site.
Show's Stories
-
LOOK: Why are Athens and other Greek cities turning orange?
Greece suffers a new round of Saharan dust pollution.
The Drive with Rob & Roz 9 hours ago -
LISTEN: Everyone from Hazelwood knows about the one-way
We want to know what the people know...
The Drive with Rob & Roz 9 hours ago