Smoke rises from the Notre Dame Cathedral in central Paris, capital of France, on April 15, 2019. A blaze broke out on Monday afternoon at the Notre Dame Cathedral in central Paris where firefighters were still fighting to put the fire under control, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said. (Photo/Agencies)
The spire and roof collapsed after a major fire engulfed one of France's most famous landmarks in Paris, the medieval Cathedral of Notre-Dame, but the main structure and two towers are safe, according to Paris fire brigade chief Jean-Claude Gallet.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the "the worst had been avoided" as the fire is continuing to burn, and vowed to rebuild the iconic structure.
"We will rebuild Notre-Dame because that's what the French people want," said Macron at the scene. "That's what our history deserves, because that is our destiny."
Cause of the nearly four-hour-long inferno remains unclear but police say it could be linked to renovation work.
A probe has been launched by Paris prosecutors' office.
