Rouen's historic cathedral in flames: Firefighters battle inferno

Local authorities reported on Thursday on X that the cathedral in Rouen is on fire. Flames have engulfed the tower's spire, and over 60 firefighters are battling the blaze. People have been evacuated from the cathedral, and the cause of the fire is not yet known.

The spire of the famous French cathedral in Rouen caught fire, as informed by the city's mayor, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, on the X platform. "All public resources are mobilised" he wrote.

Services have cordoned off the church for safety reasons. Earlier, all the people in the cathedral were evacuated. Sky News says over 60 firefighters are battling the blaze, and over 30 vehicles are at the scene.

Further recordings showing black smoke rising above the cathedral are appearing online.

Huge flames bursting from the spire have also been recorded.

As seen in the footage and as reported by local portals, the fire broke out in a part that is currently undergoing renovation.

According to French media, there is no information about anyone being injured. The intervention is still ongoing, and it is not yet known how extensive the damage is.

The cathedral in Rouen is recognisable because it was painted multiple times by the French impressionist Claude Monet in the 19th century.

The spire itself is one of the tallest in Europe and the tallest in France.