What Barack Obama Said About Notre Dame Cathedral Fire

Former United States President Barack Obama has lamented the destruction of an awe-inspiring building that embodied the heart of Paris, the French capital for more than 800 years.

Naija News had reported earlier that a catastrophic fire engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, one of France‘s most famous landmarks, altering the city’s skyline in the process.

A report by BBC says the fire began at around 18:30 (16:30 GMT) and quickly reached the roof of the cathedral, destroying its stained-glass windows and the wooden interior before toppling the spire.

French officials say the 850-year-old Gothic building’s spire and roof have collapsed but the main structure, including the two bell towers, has been saved.

The report monitored by Naija News, says firefighters are still working to contain the blaze as teams try to salvage the artwork stored inside.

Though the cause of the fire outbreak has not been ascertained, French officials, however, say it could be linked to the renovation work that began after cracks appeared in the stone, sparking fears the structure could become unstable.

Reacting in a tweet, Obama wrote: “Notre Dame is one of the world’s great treasures, and we’re thinking of the people of France in your time of grief. It’s in our nature to mourn when we see history lost – but it’s also in our nature to rebuild for tomorrow, as strong as we can.”

Notre Dame is one of the world’s great treasures, and we’re thinking of the people of France in your time of grief. It’s in our nature to mourn when we see history lost – but it’s also in our nature to rebuild for tomorrow, as strong as we can. pic.twitter.com/SpMEvv1BzB

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 15, 2019