Shocking news emerged on Monday showing Notre Dame cathedral fire: Dramatic video shows famous Paris church roof engulfed by flame of one of Paris' oldest and most famous landmarks.
Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral spire collapses in huge fire at iconic building they were tackling a blaze at the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris.
The area was being cleared, while the fire department said a "major operation" to fight the flames was under way.
The cathedral, for which building started in 1163, is the most visited monument in France, with an average of 30,000 people per day flocking to see its Gothic architecture.
French President Emmanuel Macron has cancelled his planned address to the nation as the cathedral continues to burn.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, as Paris firefighters evacuate the area to fight the inferno.
"Our priority is putting the fire out before working out what caused it," said an emergency services spokesman.
It is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Paris, and is visited by some 12million people every year.
Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral spire collapses in huge fire at iconic building
Notre Dame cathedral fire: Dramatic video shows famous Paris church roof engulfed by flame
