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Multiple people had to be evacuated from the Eiffel Tower after a fire alarm was triggered at the iconic landmark.
The Society for the Development of the Eiffel Tower (SETE) said in a statement to Newsweek magazine that a short circuit in the elevator’s power rail between the second floor and the top triggered the monument’s fire alarm, but that there was no danger.
The statement was issued after French media reported that a fire had broken out.
What you need to know
SETE said visitors were evacuated “in accordance with current safety protocols” but ultimately determined there was no danger.
“After ensuring there was no danger, firefighters left the scene. There was no danger to visitors.
“In cooperation with the fire brigade, SETE, along with electrical maintenance contractors and elevator technicians, are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.”
The tower, which was temporarily closed, has reopened up to the second floor.
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why is it important
According to the statistical database RoadGenius, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous structures in the world, welcoming an average of 15,000 to 25,000 visitors a day.
In January, photos and videos were posted on social media claiming the Eiffel Tower was on fire, but these were fake.
In January 1956, a fire broke out in the landmark tower’s television transmission room, causing significant damage.
what are people saying
“About 1,200 people were evacuated. Firefighters reportedly determined that the cause of the blaze was overheating of cables,” said Julien Tellier, a journalist from Boulevard Voltaire.
“The fire has been contained and is now under control. The fire is believed to have been caused by an overheating device near the cables of one of the elevators.”
Multiple people have posted on X about the fire and evacuation, with some saying they were at the landmark when the incident occurred.
notre dame cathedral
Five years have passed since April 15, 2019, when the historic medieval Notre-Dame Cathedral caught fire.
The blaze, which continued to burn for nearly 15 hours, toppled the cathedral’s 18th-century spire and destroyed the roof, which is made primarily of lead-covered wood, while falling burning debris destroyed part of the vaulted ceiling. suffered serious damage.
After the devastating fire, French President Emmanuel Macron promised to rebuild the cathedral.
“We want to rebuild the cathedral even more beautifully and complete it within five years,” President Macron said in a statement from the Elysée Palace at the time. “And we can do it.”
Notre Dame reopened in December, with President Donald Trump in attendance, along with world leaders, royals and business moguls.
Updated on December 24, 2024, 9:56 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with new information from the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel.
