Donald Trump has said that France should consider using “flying water tankers” to put out the devastating blaze at the Notre Dame cathedral.
The US president said officials “must act quickly” after a huge fire broke out at the iconic gothic cathedral in Paris on Monday evening sending smoke billowing across the French capital.
Politicians and public figures from across the globe tweeted their concerns and well-wishes after pictures emerged of flames engulfing the roof of the building.
Mr Trump said: “So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly!”
France's civil security agency said using water-dropping aircraft could cause the whole Notre Dame cathedral structure to collapse.
The gothic cathedral's main spire and roof has fell in following the devastating blaze which broke out at 5.50pm local time.
Flames could be seen bursting through the roof as smoke billows over the iconic site which attracts millions of tourists every year.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo described it as a "terrible" fire and the country's president Emmanuel Macron said he was cancelling a planned address to the nation.
A major operation was under way by Paris firefighters to bring the blaze under control.
