Rouen’s Notre-Dame cathedral, currently under renovation, has been evacuated following a fire, the origin of which remains unknown for the moment. Fortunately, no injuries were reported

The French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, is expected on site this Thursday from 5 p.m. to visit the site and meet the teams involved in fighting the fire.

Frédéric Teillet, Rouen’s public prosecutor, has confirmed that an investigation has been opened by the criminal investigation department, although a criminal trail is not being pursued at this stage. The fire department, supported by specialized crews, quickly brought under control the flames, which had caught on objects located on the platform and the white protective tarpaulin. The cathedral’s emblematic 151-metre spire does not appear to have been directly threatened by the incident.

Despite the significant damage, the Archbishop of the Diocese of Rouen, Monsignor Dominique Lebrun, expressed his deepest sympathy for the staff of the archdiocese and the local population. He stresses that in-depth assessments will be necessary to measure the extent of the damage caused by the fire, and its financial and moral consequences.