Notre Dame cathedral is on fire!

[ithinkmycatistryingtokillme]

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

From BBC News

It comes as the cathedral, which is visited by millions of people every year, is undergoing renovations after cracks began to appear in the stone, sparking fears the structure could become unstable.

So the stone work was in bad condition prior to the fire. It couldn't be a worse state of affairs.

At the moment it's being reported that there's been no loss of life, but in all the photos the surrounding area looks quite built up. If the fire does spread, then I would guess there is quite a bit risk to safety. I hope that Paris can get through this without anyone getting hurt.

It is so sad that such a historic building and so many artworks and artefacts have been lost.

It seems to be dying down now. Still a devastating loss.

Gosh how sad :(
I visited years back and its a truly breathtaking building.

They can't put it out once it has spread like that

So it seems ... and it's reported the interior's now on fire too

“Everything is burning, nothing will remain from the frame,” Notre Dame spokesman Andre Finot told French media

Can't believe this. It's heartbreaking to see the images on TV. I've had tears in my eyes too.

This is beyond sad. Beyond belief really. Such a beautiful building, so much history, so much feeling...it’s not ‘just’ a cathedral. I can spend hours in it & I don’t have a religious bone in my body. I was once there when a funeral took place, it’s one of the most moving memories I have.

I can’t imagine how they must be feeling 😢

Oh god I can barely watch, poor poor Paris

A tragic disaster - let's just hope that the firefighters can prevent it from spreading any further.

Ok, following this live on BBC news 24, and I retract my earlier post about not worrying because York Minster was recovered from its fire in 1982. It now looks like Notre Dame as we know it has had it. It's unbelievable.

Best case scenario here I think is that the walls remain up like Glasgow School of Art.

We just said the same. There is little to no hope for the fabulous interiors. Such a disaster.

They are now saying that the interior is burning. It is tragic.

It’s an absolute disaster. Notre Dame is irreplaceable.

There are always workmen involved when a building goes on fire. Always. Bastards.

I can't watch. Of course the most important thing is that no lives are lost(I hope not) but it's terrible to see such a beautiful and iconic building be lost. Im still moping over the loss of the The Glasgow School of Art and the ABC and now this, which is even worse.

Such a beautiful and historic building gone. Utterly heartbreaking

Looking at the report on BBC just now it seems most of the interior has been destroyed. Hope no-one is injured or has died.

There are always workmen involved when a building goes on fire. Always. Bastards.

That's very harsh. These are workmen who are going to be devastated as they were trying to restore the cathedral and preserve it.

Now the Ile de la cite is being evacuated. This is awful beyond words.

It took two hundred years to build. Two hundred years.

Devastating.

The beating heart of my adopted city.

Not particularly religious but the sight of the spire broke my heart. The pictures reminded both me and my French DH of 9/11. Completely heartbreaking.

Ken Follett, who has studied the cathedral structures a lot, thinks it is very likely barely anything will survive.

I am so glad that my children and I have been able to see this splendid building and sad that now so many won't. I do that makes me sound very shallow.

^ I know.

I am so sorry for this beautiful city and her wonderful peoples' loss.

BBC News again

Workers have been removing statues for repairs in recent days

They had also been replacing ones that had been completed after restoration. So there might be some that have survived by virtue of being away for repair.

Think of the silence over Paris, without the bells which have been heard for centuries.