1,000-year-old Notre-Dame Cathedral in France catches fire | VIDEO

New Delhi: Black smoke emerged from the spire of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Rouen, France on Thursday as it was consumed by a fierce fire. The video was posted on social media platform X, where it was said that the fire emerged when the workers were involved in construction activities, however, the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

The fire erupted amid ongoing renovation work on the cathedral's spire, which necessitated the erection of large scaffolding structures. This construction project had been in progress for several weeks.

#Rouen (76) : la flèche de la Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen en feu. Et encore une fois, c'est un bâtiment qui est en travaux depuis plusieurs semaines. Quand va-t-on imposer des normes de sécurité anti-incendie extrêmement strictes lors des travaux de rénovation de bâtiments du… pic.twitter.com/KePjLwqWkt

— Kâplan (@KaplanBen_Fr) July 11, 2024

This tragic incident has once again raised urgent questions about fire safety measures during renovation work on historic buildings. The spire of Notre-Dame Cathedral, a significant cultural and architectural landmark, was undergoing extensive repairs when the fire broke out.

"Why are we not imposing extremely strict fire safety standards during renovation work on heritage buildings?" questioned a concerned internet user. The call for stricter regulations is growing louder as the frequency of such devastating fires during construction projects increases.

🚨🇫🇷BREAKING: FIRE SPREADS AT NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL

33 fire engines and 63 firefighters were at the scene in the French city of Rouen.

The 1,000-year-old cathedral was a favorite of Claude Monet, who painted it several times in the 19th centurypic.twitter.com/blLd3fB2i6 https://t.co/1bm1ehH3Gr

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 11, 2024

French architectural marvel at risk of collapse?

The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Rouen is not just a place of worship but a vital piece of French cultural heritage. Fires like these threaten to erase centuries of history and architectural marvels. The cathedral's spire, a symbol of the city's skyline, is now at risk of severe damage or complete destruction.

Efforts to contain the fire

Firefighters are working tirelessly to control the fire and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the cathedral. The extent of the damage is yet to be assessed, but the immediate focus remains on extinguishing the fire and preserving as much of the historic structure as possible.

This incident underscores the necessity for enhanced fire safety protocols, especially during the renovation of heritage sites. The cultural and historical loss from such fires is immeasurable, and preventative measures must be prioritized to safeguard these irreplaceable monuments.