One of the most iconic buildings of history, the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris caught fire and its structure severely damaged as century-old objects have been burnt to ashes but the facade of the building was saved. The fire is said to be under control as Parisians watched silently in horror as one of the most lovable buildings of their life going up in the smoke.
The cause of the fire was not yet known but it burned for several hours Monday, causing the collapse of the cathedral's iconic spire and the destruction of its roof structure, which dated back to the 13th century.
Consumed by flames, the spire leaned to one side and fell onto the burning roof as horrified onlookers watched.
By early Tuesday morning, officials said the fire was under control and several invaluable artifacts had been rescued from the burning cathedral.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised firefighters for saving the cathedral's iconic facade and towers, saying "the worst has been avoided."
Yet he lamented the damage already done to "the cathedral of all French people." He pledged to launch an international fundraising campaign to rebuild the cathedral.
"Notre Dame is our history, it's our literature, it's our imagery. It's the place where we live our greatest moments, from wars to pandemics to liberations," he said.
"This history is ours. And it burns. It burns and I know the sadness so many of our fellow French feel." French vowed to rebuild it completely and bring it to its original glory.
