Devastating footage has captured Notre-Dame roof collapses as people share heartbreak over fire at historic Paris cathedral as the cause of the fire is linked to a single 'stray flame' from renovation work.
Firefighters in Paris have been battling the blaze since it began at around 7pm (CENT) tonight .
An emergency services source told The Mirror : “It appears that it all began as a relatively small fire linked to a stray flame in the roof.
“The fire was so high up that it was difficult to get to, meaning it soon spread across the roof, causing a terrible blaze.”
A £5million renovation project was taking place at the 856-year-old building before the inferno broke out in the loft.
Orange and red flames topped by thick black smoke could be seen for miles across the Paris skyline.
Notre-Dame roof collapses as people share heartbreak over fire at historic Paris cathedral
Scaffolding that had been set up around the building collapsed, along with large parts of the Cathedral itself, including the Spire, which dates back to the mid-19thCentury.
As emergency service vehicles rushed to the scene, crowds of tourists who had been visiting the cathedral earlier in the day built up to watch the fire.
Cathedral officials have said the entire wooden interior of the building is on fire, and is likely to be destroyed.
A desperate effort is being made to save priceless works of art from the cathedral, which is visited by around 12 million people per year.
No one has been reported injured in the fire, which has seen the main spire collapse.
French President Emmanuel Macron took to Twitter in the wake of the horrific incident.
He wrote: "Our Lady of Paris in flames. Emotion of a whole nation. Thought for all Catholics and for all French. Like all our countrymen, I'm sad tonight to see this part of us burn."
The bones of the centuries-old building are now visibly exposed by the flames which can be seen raging from between the building's bell towers.
The Notre Dame is visited by some 12 million people every year and is one the finest example of French Gothic architecture in Europe.
Paris prosecutor's office says it has started an inquiry into the blaze.
