Footage from the inside of the Notre Dame shows the extensive damage done to the altar, ceiling and walls of the cathedral after a massive fire ripped through the building. Firefighters saved the main sanctuary and the cathedral's historic bell towers.
Even as officials continued to assess the damage and search for a cause in the massive fire that completely destroyed its roof of Notre Dame Cathedral, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised national address to his country Tuesday evening that he wants to see the 13th century basilica rebuilt within five years.
He said 80 percent of the priceless artifacts in the sanctuary, including the Crown of Thorns purportedly worn by Jesus when he was crucified, were saved by a team comprised of firefighters, cathedral staff and members of the Ministry of Culture, who arrived within 30 minutes of the fire starting on Monday afternoon. The artifacts, according to Finot, were placed in a vehicle and driven to City Hall.
Pécresse said firefighters fought the blaze through the night, saving the main sanctuary and the cathedral's historic bell towers. The first photos released from inside showed the altar intact with a gold crucifix still hanging above it. The blaze broke out at 6:50 p.m. local time Monday and quickly spread along the roof of the cathedral, which was undergoing a $170 million renovation was partially encased in scaffolding. It took firefighters hours to bring the fire under control as much of nave was constructed of ancient timbers that fueled the flame and came crashing through the roof.
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