FRANCE: Developing Story – Fire guts Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral
A massive fire consumed Notre Dame Cathedral on Monday, gutting and destroying the roof of the Paris landmark and stunning France and the world, but firefighters said they had saved the shell of the stone structure from collapse.
Flames that began in the early evening burst rapidly through the roof of the centuries-old cathedral and engulfed the spire, which toppled, quickly followed by the entire roof.
As it burned into the evening, firefighters battled to prevent one of the main bell towers from collapsing. One firefighter was seriously injured – the only reported casualty.
“We now believe that the two towers of Notre Dame have been saved,” Paris fire chief Jean-Claude Gallet told reporters at the scene. “We now consider that the main structure of Notre Dame has been saved and preserved.”
There was still a risk that some of the interior structures could collapse, and firefighters would work overnight to cool them down, he said.
Distraught Parisians and stunned tourists gazed in disbelief as the inferno raged at the cathedral, which sits on the Ile de la Cite, an island in the River Seine and marks the very center of Paris.
Thousands of onlookers lined bridges over the Seine and along its embankments, held at a distance by a police cordon.
World leaders expressed shock and sent condolences to the French people. President Emmanuel Macron said the whole nation was distressed. “Like all our compatriots, I am sad this evening to see this part of all of us burn,” he tweeted.
A huge plume of smoke wafted across the city and ash fell over a large area. People watching gasped as the spire folded over onto itself and fell into the inferno.
Firefighters battled smoke and falling ｄrops of molten lead to salvage priceless artworks and relics.
A centuries-old crown of thorns made from reeds and gold and the tunic worn by Saint Louis, a 13th century king of France, were saved, Notre Dame’s top administrative cleric, Monsignor Patrick Chauvet said. But firefighters had struggled to take down some of the large paintings in time, he said.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said it had launched an inquiry into the fire. Several police sources said that they were working on the assumption for now that it was accidental.
“Everything is collapsing,” a police officer near the scene said as the cathedral continued to burn.
…The Vatican said the fire at the “symbol of Christianity in France and in the world” had caused shock and sadness and said it was praying for the firefighters.
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said at the scene that some of many artworks that were in the cathedral had been taken out and were being put in safe storage.
The cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century, features in Victor Hugo’s classic novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” It is a UNESCO World Heritage site that attracts millions of tourists every year.
It is a focal point for French Roman Catholics who like Christians around the world are celebrating Holy Week, marking the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The archbishop of Paris called on all priests in Paris to ring church bells as a gesture of solidarity for Notre Dame.
Image Source: https://www.studentnewsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/notredame-820x615.jpg
Article Source: https://www.studentnewsdaily.com/daily-news-article/world-1-fire-guts-paris-notre-dame-cathedral/
Vocabulary:
1. gut / verb : to take out the guts or entrails of; disembowel ; to destroy the interior of:
2, engulf / verb : to swallow up in or as in a gulf; submerge:
3. Distraught / adjective : distracted; deeply agitated.
4. compatriot / noun : a native or inhabitant of one's own ｃountry; fellow ｃountryman or ｃountrywoman.
5. waft / verb : to carry lightly and smoothly through the air or over water:
6. salvage / verb : to save from shipwreck, fire, etc.
7. assumption / noun : something taken for granted; a supposition:
8. solidarity / noun : ｕnion or fellowship arising from common responsibilities and interests, as between members of agroup or between classes, peoples, etc.:
Questions:
1. list the who, what, where and when of the news item
2. What caused the massive fire?
3. What does Notre Dame symbolize?
4. What is the significance of the fire occurring this particular week?
5. What did the archbishop of Paris call on all priests in Paris to do?
6. Why is the destruction of such a historic symbol of Christianity significant around the world?
