- Officials in Paris said a large operation had been launched in an attempt to bring the raging fire under control
- Pictures from around the city posted on social media showed flames licking up Notre Dame’s famous spire
- The fire was first reported at 5.50pm (GMT) on Monday and the building was evacuated soon afterwards
The spire of Paris’s famous Notre Dame cathedral has collapsed after a massive blaze broke out at the cathedral earlier this evening.
Pictures posted on social media showed enormous plumes of smoke billowing into the city’s skyline and flames engulfing large sections of the historic building as firefighters struggled to contain the inferno.
According to French newspaper Le Monde, the fire broke out in the attic of the monument before spreading across the roof.
Officials in Paris said the fire could be linked to restoration works as the peak of the church is currently undergoing a 6 million-euro ($6.8 million) renovation project.
Notre Dame fire – Iconic spire COLLAPSES as massive blaze engulfs 850-year-old Paris cathedral
Dramatic video and pictures show the savage blaze raging and thick, black smoke billowing from the top of the famous Parisian landmark