Notre Dame cathedral is on fire!

[ithinkmycatistryingtokillme]

It's breaking on bbc news, from the pictures it's a major blaze!

Heartbreaking. I have fond memories of going past Notre Dame on a boat trip along the river as a teenager. Watching with tears in my eyes

Donald Trump clearly knows as little about architecture, science and fire fighting as he does politics.

So bloody awful. What a loss

It's really upsetting. I used to live in Paris and know the building well. And I know there's a good chance it's related to the renovation work, but there have also been a lot of churches damaged in vandalism and arson attacks recently, including Saint-Sulpice only a few weeks ago.

Oh fuck

As an aside - why do we need to know what Trump says, BBC News? I'm more interested in how they're tackling it/if anyone was injured.

I visited the cathedral many years ago and it was beautiful inside, the stain glass windows were a sight to behold, really hope that the fire is not as bad as it looks but sadly I think not.

Hopefully it can be rebuilt to its former glory.

Why doesn't the moronic oaf offer something more useful than his 'advice'? Like 'thoughts and prayers'? Isn't that the usual?

pbs.twimg.com/media/D4NjBvGXkAQ2wL-.jpg

Apparently one of the great windows has gone now too

Oh how awful!!

This will burn until there is nothing left, they don't appear to have any significant fire fighting capacity.

Yes we fucking do.

This is so sad, that beautiful medieval interior

It's awful

Just awful! I hope they manage to save as much as possible.

We were there two years ago, so TS a beautiful church, even if you're not religious as we are not. Full of history and scary gargoyles.

I'm worried that the whole building will burn down as the fire has taken hold so much. Those brave firefighters who are up there on the building trying to save it, I hope they stay safe.

All that beauty.

I've never been to Paris , but my heart goes out to the French and in particular Parisians ...it is such an iconic Gothic cultural building and the damage looks devastating

Looking like an absolute disaster when the beams come down into the basilica.

In 1940, St Pauls was saved because there were fire-boats with high-powered hoses.

They seem not to have any of that.

Very sad to see. I confess to feeling quite teary watching it.

Given how close the buildings on the rue du Cloitre ND are, let's hope they can prevent this spreading ...

It's just awful. I've been twice and it had such a lovely calm atmosphere. It really was a sight to behold.

This is so sad. I lit a candle in there in January for the safe birth of my DS. Heartbreaking

An absolute tragedy.

If you've been to Notre Dame, it's something you never ever forget, it's magical and awe inspiring.

They can't put it out once it has spread like that. It's so sad.

It is such a wonderful building, utterly devastating.

So, so sad

@Roussette So true