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As it happenedended

Notre Dame fire: Cathedral blaze 'being treated as an accident' as firefighters continue to fight flames – as it happened

Andrew Griffin,Jon Stone
Monday 15 April 2019 23:43 BST
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Devastating moment Notre Dame cathedral spire topples over into bed of flames during huge fire

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The Notre-Dame in Paris has been devastated after a fire ripped through its roof and burnt large parts of the cathedral.

The medieval roof of the cathedral was almost entirely destroyed but photographs from inside show that much of the structure remained intact, after an hours-long firefighting mission.

One firefighter was reported to have been seriously injured in the blaze. The sacred objects and artwork stored in the cathedral were secured.

Emmanuel Macron has committed to rebuild the cathedral, and has promised an international fundraising effort to restore it to its previous state.

While the cause of the fire is still unclear, authorities said they were believed it to have been started by accident.

Follow our latest live blog here or recap our previous coverage of the fire below

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The spire has now collapsed.

Andrew Griffin15 April 2019 19:01

Macron will go to the scene of the fire, the Élysée says.

Andrew Griffin15 April 2019 19:02

Video shows the dramatic moment the spire collapsed.

Andrew Griffin15 April 2019 19:03

Police in Paris say the cause of the massive fire enveloping the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral isn't yet known. 

The French capital's police department said no deaths have been reported from Monday's fire. The police department didn't say anything about injuries.

Andrew Griffin15 April 2019 19:06

Andrew Griffin15 April 2019 19:08

"Everything is collapsing," a police officer near the scene said as the entire roof of the cathedral continued to burn, according to Reuters.

Andrew Griffin15 April 2019 19:09

"Notre-Dame de Paris in flames," Macron has tweeted. "Emotion of all the nation. Give thought for all Catholics and for all French. Like all our countrymen, I'm sad tonight to see the burning of this part of us."

Andrew Griffin15 April 2019 19:11

According to AP, a church spokesman has told media that all of Notre Dame Cathedral's frame is burning after spire collapsed.

Andrew Griffin15 April 2019 19:12

The Paris prosecutor's office says it has started an inquiry into the fire.

Andrew Griffin15 April 2019 19:19

Andrew Griffin15 April 2019 19:21

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