The spire of France’s famous Rouen cathedral is on fire, according to the city’s mayor.
Images posted on social media showed flames spewing from what looks like a scaffolding canopy near the top of the building, which is renowned due to its three towers spanning hundreds of years of architecture.
The gothic cathedral is widely known as it was painted multiple times by French impressionist painter Claude Monet in the 19th century.
“A fire has started on the spire of Rouen Cathedral. Origin unknown at this stage. All public resources are mobilised,” wrote the city’s mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol on X.
The cathedral has been evacuated and emergency services are on site, regional officials said.
They added the blaze started in a section where building works were taking place.
A security cordon has also gone up around the building.
Television images on BFM TV showed a dark plume of smoke rising from the spire and people in the streets below looking up in horror.
It reported 33 fire engines and 63 firefighters were at the scene – and public transport had been disrupted.
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