A fire that broke out in the spire of the cathedral in Rouen, France is under control. As the responsible prefecture said on Thursday evening Online-Platform X reported, the fire department was able to contain the fire. Videos circulating online showed dark smoke rising above the tower of the Gothic church. The Rouen diocese said firefighters were still on the scene to monitor any dogs. The cathedral will reopen its doors on Friday.
The cause of the fire was initially unclear, as was the exact extent of the damage. According to the authorities, the church was evacuated. An exclusion zone has been established around the cathedral. Firefighters are still on duty to monitor the building. The church’s cast iron spire is currently being restored and has been surrounded by scaffolding and covering for several weeks.
Joan of Arc and the tallest building in the world
Built in the 12th century, Rouen Cathedral is one of the most important churches in France. On May 30, 1431, 19-year-old Joan of Arc, alias Joan of Arc, was burned at the stake in the market square as a heretic. At 151 metres, the cathedral’s bell tower is the tallest church tower in the country; Until Cologne Cathedral was completed in 1880, it was the tallest building in the world.
The current incident in Rouen is reminiscent of the disastrous fire in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. During restoration work, a major fire broke out there on April 15, 2019, destroying the roofs and roof structure, parts of the vaults and the crossing tower. (Rome/KNA)
July 11, 7:30 pm: supplemented with additional details on the current situation.