The roof of Paris’ famed Notre Dame Cathedral collapsed Monday as a massive fire ripped through the structure.
The city’s mayor and firefighters warned people to stay away from the area. There have been no confirmed deaths, according to Paris police, while a French government official said no injuries had yet been reported.
It was not immediately clear what had caused the fire, while local media reported that police in the city were treating it as an accident.
The cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century and is famous for featuring in Victor Hugo’s classic novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,” attracts millions of tourists every year.
President Emmanuel Macron will be going to the scene of the fire, according to an Elysee official. He mourned the landmark in a tweet.
He also cancelled an address to the nation that he had been due to give later on Monday evening.
A major operation was under way, the fire department said, while a city hall spokesman said on Twitter that the area was being cleared.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, addressed the fire in a tweet early Monday afternoon.
Notre-Dame was in the midst of renovations, with some sections under scaffolding, while bronze statues were removed last week for works.
In a tweet the mayor of Paris confirmed the fire and called for people to remain away from the scene.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
–Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
