Tourists evacuated from Eiffel Tower as fire breaks out at famous tourist attraction in Paris

An evacuation has taken place at the Eiffel Tower in Paris with reports that the iconic structure in the French capital is on fire and emergency services are at the scene

By: irishmirror.ie

Dec 24 2024
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Tourists evacuated from Eiffel

A fire has broken out at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, with people having to be evacuated as a result.

Emergency services are on the scene and are tackling the flames while tourists have been led away from the iconic structure in the French capital, reports The Mirror.

The Eiffel Tower is reported to be currently closed while the operation is underway to put out the blaze, with firefighters originally said to have been struggling to get to the source of the fire.

The blaze is understood to have been burning in the elevator shaft between the first and second floor of the tower. One person has written on X: "A fire is currently raging at the Eiffel Tower. The monument has just been evacuated. An emergency response company has established a perimeter, but firefighters are unable to access the flames."

And another also shared on social media: "A fire is in progress at the Eiffel Tower. Flames were observed in the elevator shaft between the 1st and 2nd floors. All people in the vicinity have been evacuated. The firefighters are still working." While a further person stated: "After Notre Dame, we now have the Eiffel Tower on fire!"

It now appears as though the source of the fire has been found. A journalist for Boulevard Voltaire wrote: "Around 1,200 people were evacuated. The firefighters have reportedly identified the origin of the flames as overheating of a cable." He continued: "The fire has been brought under control and is now out. The fire is believed to have been caused by an overheating device near a cable of one of the elevators."

Paris is still haunted by the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral, with thick plumes of smoke going into the air in 2019. This month, the first Mass was hosted after the church was rebuilt and it has become a powerful symbol of Paris' resilience.

Notre Dame's journey from ruin to resurrection was defined by extraordinary craftsmanship, nearly £1 billion (approximately €1.2 billion) in global donations and a collective, unyielding determination to rebuild.

The path to restoration was fraught with challenges. Lead contamination forced work to pause, and the COVID-19 pandemic added delays. Yet the project, overseen by architect Philippe Villeneuve, has been hailed as a triumph of human ingenuity and collective resolve. Cutting-edge fire prevention systems, including thermal cameras and a misting system, have been installed to safeguard the cathedral's future.

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