Fire breaks out in medieval Rouen Cathedral in France

A fire broke out in the tower of the medieval cathedral in the city of Rouen, in the Normandy region of northern France.

Rouen Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, in a statement on his X account, said that a fire broke out for an unknown reason in the tower of the Rouen Cathedral, which is undergoing restoration. Mayer-Rossignol stated that all public resources were mobilized to combat the fire.

FIREFIGHTERS IN THE AREA

The Normandy and Seine-Maritime Governorate’s X account announced that the cathedral had been evacuated and rescue teams had arrived at the scene. The governorate stated that a security perimeter had been set up around the cathedral and asked citizens to stay away from the area. In the images shared on social media of the fire that broke out in the cathedral, thick black smoke was seen rising from the historic structure’s tower, which is currently undergoing restoration. The French press reported that 63 firefighters and 33 fire trucks were responding at the scene.

ROUEN CATHEDRAL

The construction of Rouen Cathedral began in the 11th century during the Middle Ages and was completed in the 16th century during the Renaissance. Rouen Cathedral is among the most important historical structures of the city. Restoration work has been ongoing in Rouen Cathedral since 2016.