JAKARTA - A fire incident occurred at Saint Pierre et Saint Paul Cathedral, Nantes, Western France. This incident adds to the list of cathedral fire incidents in France. For Saint Pierre et Saint Paul, this fire was not the first.
Last year, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris also caught fire and left the historic building badly damaged. The worst damage was to the roof and top of the cathedral's main tower.
"After Notre-Dame, Saint Pierre et Saint Paul Cathedral caught fire. We support firefighters who take all risks to save the gothic gem," added French President Emmanuel Macron in his tweet.
Après Notre-Dame, la cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, au cœur de Nantes, est en flammes. Soutien à nos sapeurs-pompiers qui prennent tous les risques pour sauver ce joyau gothique de la cité des Ducs.
- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 18, 2020
Meanwhile, for Saint Pierre et Saint Paul, history records that the cathedral in Nantes was damaged and burned several times. It was noted that in World War II, most of the cathedral buildings were destroyed by the allies bombing.
After that, in 1972, a fire damaged the roof of the cathedral. Saint Pierre et Saint Paul Cathedral was then rebuilt 13 years ago. Construction was carried out with concrete structures to replace ancient wooden roofs.
"The 1972 fires are on our minds. But we cannot compare to fires now," said Nantes Mayor Johanna Rolland.
Bring up sadnessSaturday, July 18, flames spread all over the cathedral building from the 15th century. More than a hundred firefighters were dispatched to put out the flames. The fire was extinguished in a matter of hours.
In this incident, the pipe organ which is used to accompany worship was also damaged and destroyed. The flames that quickly engulfed the cathedral destroyed the cathedral's stained glass windows and 19th-century paintings that originated in Rome.
França- Há um grande incêndio na histórica Catedral de Nantespic.twitter.com/eUWWSAYVhs
- Nathália Urban (@UrbanNathalia) July 18, 2020
An eye witness, Jean-Yves Burban, who worked as a newspaper agent in front of the cathedral, admitted to hearing an explosion from inside the cathedral at around 07.30 WIB. After that, the fire grew.
"I was shaken because I've been here eight years and I see the cathedral every morning and evening. This is our cathedral and tears are in my eyes," he said.
A number of ministers also visited the cathedral immediately after the fire was extinguished. Seen the Minister of Culture and Minister of the Interior of France. In addition, French Prime Minister Jean Castex appeared.
"The state will take part of the responsibility (to restore the cathedral)," said Castex.
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