Fire Erupts in Rouen Cathedral Spire, Under Control

Authorities have reported a fire that ignited on Thursday within the spire of the medieval cathedral located in the northern French city of Rouen.

Witnesses interviewed by BFM television described seeing smoke rising from the spire, prompting recollections of the disastrous fire that struck Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2019, leading to the collapse of its spire and roof.

The Rouen Cathedral, situated in Normandy, is widely recognized from a series of paintings created by the impressionist artist Claude Monet.

Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol shared a message on the social media platform X, stating, “A fire has begun in the spire of the Rouen Cathedral. The origin is unknown at this time. All public resources are being deployed.”

The regional administration announced online that the cathedral has been evacuated, and a security perimeter is in place.

The cathedral in Paris, a prominent landmark, is scheduled for reopening in December following an extensive reconstruction effort. The cause of the Paris fire was attributed to an accident.