Fire Erupts at Rouen Gothic Cathedral During Renovations

The spire of Rouen's gothic cathedral caught fire during renovation works. The incident brought to mind the 2019 Notre-Dame fire. Local authorities evacuated the cathedral and no casualties were reported. The extent of the damage is yet unclear.

The spire of the Gothic cathedral in Rouen, Normandy, caught fire on Thursday amid renovation works, according to television images.

The cathedral, celebrated in the 19th century through multiple paintings by impressionist artist Claude Monet, emitted dark smoke from its spire, causing onlookers in the streets below to react in horror, as broadcasted on the BFM channel.

The incident is reminiscent of the catastrophic fire at Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris in 2019, which also ignited during renovations. The Rouen cathedral’s spire had been enshrouded in scaffolding and a protective white cover for weeks.

The local prefecture, which represents state authority in the region, confirmed that the cathedral was evacuated and emergency services were on the scene. A security perimeter was established around the edifice, but thus far, no casualties were reported. The extent of damage remains uncertain.