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Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, France, on April 15, 2019.
Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre Dame Cathedral in central Paris, France, on April 15, 2019.
Hubert Hitier/AFP/Getty Images

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The devastating Notre Dame Cathedral fire, in 19 photos

Stunning images of the iconic gothic landmark in Paris, France, engulfed in flames.

By Kainaz Amaria, Jen Kirby, and Jennifer Williams Updated

The iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, was engulfed in a massive fire Monday evening that has destroyed the monument’s spire and threatened to consume the entire structure.

After fire crews battled the relentless flames for hours, Paris fire officials said late Monday night that the cathedral’s two main rectangular towers had been “saved and preserved,” though much of the monument’s roof has been destroyed along with the spire.

The extent of the damage to the rest of the cathedral is not yet clear. “We’re still working to save the cathedral’s work of arts,” Laurent Nunez, secretary to France’s interior minister, told reporters Monday.

The blaze erupted at the centuries-old cathedral on Monday around 6:30 pm local time; news of the fire spread rapidly on social media as people shared photos showing bright-orange flames and smoke pouring from a spire of the church.

Images on social media later showed the cathedral’s spire collapsing, swallowed up by the blaze.

The cause of the fire is not yet clear, though police told the Guardian that it appeared to be an accident and linked to restoration work. The approximately 800-year-old church, which is one of Paris’s most cherished attractions, has been in desperate need of repairs and restoration.

Tourists were reportedly inside the building and had to be evacuated when the flames broke out. There have been no reports of any injuries so far, though, and fire crews are continuing to fight to put the blaze completely out.

“The worst has been avoided, even if the battle is not yet totally won,” French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters around midnight. He vowed to rebuild the cathedral and said a national campaign to raise money for the reconstruction would be launched Tuesday.

The images of the gothic cathedral engulfed in flames have captivated people around the world. Here are some of the most devastating photos from the scene of the fire.

Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre Dame Cathedral on April 15, 2019, in Paris, France.
Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Pierre Suu/Getty Images
People watch the landmark Notre Dame Cathedral burning in central Paris on April 15, 2019.
People watch the landmark cathedral burning in central Paris.
Nicolas Liponne/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, potentially involving renovation work being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
The cause of the fire is still unclear, but it could involve the renovation work being carried out at the site, the fire service said.
Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images
Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019.
Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre Dame Cathedral.
Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt/AFP/Getty Images
A woman reacts as she watches flames engulf the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
A woman reacts as she watches flames engulf the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt/AFP/Getty Images
Hundreds gather in central Paris to watch smoke and flames rise from a fire at Notre Dame Cathedral on April 15, 2019.
Hundreds gather in central Paris to watch smoke and flames rise at the cathedral.
Nicolas Liponne/NurPhoto via Getty Images
A massive column of smoke rises from the Notre Dame Cathedral in central Paris, France, on April 15, 2019.
A massive column of smoke rises from the Notre Dame Cathedral in central Paris, France.
Nicolas Liponne/NurPhoto via Getty Images
A woman reacts as she watches the flames engulf the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019.
A woman reacts as she watches the flames engulf the roof.
Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt/AFP/Getty Images
A huge column of smoke stands above the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris as what the mayor of the French capital described as a “terrible fire.”
A huge column of smoke stands above what the mayor of the French capital described as a “terrible fire.”
Christian Böhmer/Picture Alliance via Getty Images
Firefighters douse flames and smoke billowing from the roof at Notre Dame Cathedral.
Firefighters douse flames and smoke billowing from the roof of the cathedral.
Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images
Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof.
Chesnot/Getty Images
A shot of central Paris shows flames and smoke billowing from the roof at Notre Dame Cathedral.
A view of the flames rising from Ile de la Cité in central Paris.
Chesnot/Getty Images
A series of photos shows the spire, engulfed in flames, collapsing.
A series of photos shows the spire, engulfed in flames, collapsing.
Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt/AFP/Getty Images
Onlookers watch as firefighters battle the blaze.
Onlookers watch as firefighters battle the blaze.
Arina Lebedeva/TASS via Getty Images
Parisians gather next to the cathedral to pray as the structure burns.
Parisians gather next to the cathedral to pray as the structure burns.
Chesnot/Getty Images
Parisians and tourists gather on the Pont de la Tournelle to watch the cathedral as it burns.
Parisians and tourists gather on the Pont de la Tournelle to watch the cathedral as it burns.
Marc Piasecki/Getty Images
A light atop the Eiffel Tower pierces the smoke billowing from the top of the cathedral as firefighters struggle to contain the fire.
A light atop the Eiffel Tower pierces the smoke billowing from the top of the cathedral as firefighters struggle to contain the fire.
Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images
Night falls as firefighters continue to battle the flames.
Night falls as firefighters continue to battle the flames.
Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images

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