Notre Dame rebuild ‘on track’

THE iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which was badly damaged in a fire on April 15, 2019, will be rebuilt on schedule, French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday.

“The commitment for 2024 will be kept,” dpa news agency quoted the president as saying. In 2024, the French capital is also due to host the Summer Olympics.

Two years ago, the world-famous landmark in the heart of Paris went up in flames. The fire spread to the roof truss and engulfed large parts of the medieval building.

The cause of the fire has not yet been fully determined, but it is believed a fault in the electrical system or a lit cigarette may have triggered the disaster.

When the 13th century roof of the Paris Cathedral caught fire, it sparked a vast outpouring of emotion, as well as donations from across the world.

Within just two days, about €900 million had been raised for the cathedral’s restoration, the BBC reported.

WORKERS at the reconstruction site during a visit of the French President at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, which was damaged in a devastating fire two years ago, in Paris yesterday. | Reuters