A massive fire engulfed Paris' famed Notre Dame Cathedral on Monday evening, causing a partial collapse that has shocked France and elicited reactions from across the globe.
President Donald Trump was among the first world leaders to speak out as flames tore through the centuries-old structure amid one of numerous renovations it has undergone since the 13th century. The Republican leader took to social media to weigh in on the disaster.
"So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris," Trump tweeted. "Perhaps flying water tankers could have been used to put it out. Must act quickly!"
French President Emmanuel Macron canceled a televised speech to the nation as the fire worsened, tweeting shortly after: "Emotion for the whole nation. A thought for all Catholics and for all French. Like all our countrymen, I'm sad tonight to see this part of us burn."
Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, saying "Our lady ["notre dame" in French] of Paris is our lady of all Europe. We are all with Paris today." Steffen Seibert, spokesperson for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, quoted the leader as saying she was "saddened to see these terrible images of Notre Dame, symbol of France and of our European culture, in flames. Our thoughts go to our French friends."
"Absolutely heartbreaking to see the Notre-Dame Cathedral in flames," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted. "Canadians are thinking of our friends in France as you fight this devastating fire."
"My thoughts are with the people of France tonight and with the emergency services who are fighting the terrible blaze at Notre-Dame cathedral," United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted.
Irish President Michael Higgins said in a statement that he "would like to express the feelings of solidarity of the Irish people with the people of France at the catastrophic damage to one of the most iconic buildings in Europe—a building which the people of Paris have shared with millions from all over the world, as part of a shared global cultural heritage."
"The Notre Dame Cathedral has suffered many instances of catastrophic damage over the centuries, and it is my hope that it will survive this latest terrible catastrophe," he added.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the fire as "a catastrophe for France and for Europe," noting how the "flames ravage 850 years of history, architecture, painting and sculpture." He said that the event was "going to be hard to forget," but "France can count on us to recover the greatness of its heritage."
The official Palestine News Agency reported that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' office "expressed its deep regret Monday over the fire that broke out at the historic Notre Dame Cathedral in the center of the French capital of Paris, which caused the collapse of the cathedral tower."
"The Presidency confirmed its solidarity and sympathy with our friends in France over this incident," the outlet added.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but French media has suggested that the blaze may have been linked to the ongoing construction.
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Based in his hometown of Staten Island, New York City, Tom O'Connor is an award-winning Senior Writer of Foreign Policy ... Read more
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