Parisians were left devastated after a massive blaze engulfed the city’s historical Notre Dame Cathedral.
The fire burned for several hours Monday, causing the collapse of the cathedral's iconic spire and the destruction of its roof structure, which dated back to the 13th century.
Consumed by flames, the spire leaned to one side and fell onto the burning roof as horrified onlookers watched.
By early Tuesday morning, officials said the fire was under control and several invaluable artifacts had been rescued from the burning cathedral.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised firefighters for saving the cathedral's iconic facade and towers, saying "the worst has been avoided."
Yet he lamented the damage already done to "the cathedral of all French people." He pledged to launch an international fundraising campaign to rebuild the cathedral.
Greece’s Prime Minister took to his Twitter account sending a message to French President Macron, saying
“Deeply saddened by the news of the fire of Notre Dame. This is not only a national disaster for France, but also a serious loss for the world's cultural heritage. @emmanuelMacron, we are alongside the French.”
While main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted, “The images of #NotreDame in flames are absolutely heartbreaking to watch. Notre-Dame is a historical and religious landmark of Paris, of France and of Europe. All our thoughts and prayers are with the French people tonight.”