The spire of a famous Gothic cathedral in the French city of Rouen is on fire, with firefighters on the scene battling the blaze, local officials said.
Pictures placed on X by the prefecture Black clouds of smoke can be seen rising from a canopy and scaffolding atop the building, which is about 150 metres high.
Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol said the “origin of the fire is unknown at this time,” adding that “all public resources are being mobilized” to respond.
The prefecture reported that the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption has been evacuated and a security perimeter has been set up.
According to local authorities, there have been no reports of casualties and the extent of damage to the building is unknown.
“A fire broke out at the top of the spire, which is not made of wood but of metal,” the prefecture of the Seine-Maritime department told AFP news agency.
Rouen Cathedral is currently undergoing extensive restoration and was featured extensively in 19th century artworks by the Impressionist artist Claude Monet.
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