image for illustration: Rouen and the Cathedral in 1525, from the ‘Livre des Fontaines’ by Jacques Le Lieur – Public Domain, Commons Wikimedia
The spire of a famous Gothic cathedral in the French city of Rouen caught fire, prompting an evacuation, local officials say as images posted on X by the prefecture show black smoke billowing from a canopy and scaffolding at the top of the building, which is about 150m (495ft) tall.
BBC News writes:
The blaze has now been contained, according to officials, and three workers suffered from mild smoke inhalation. Builders renovating the cathedral spotted the flames around the spire shortly after midday, sounding the alarm, according to local authorities. About 70 firefighters and 40 fire engines were part of the efforts to tackle the blaze at Our Lady of the Assumption cathedral…
… The cast iron spire has been undergoing restoration work, and is shrouded in scaffolding…
It was constructed over several centuries…
