A fire broke out at the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in the heart of Paris Monday evening.

Here’s what we know about the blaze:

The spire was destroyed: Large parts of the roof already appear to have been burned, CNN’s Melissa Bell, who is in Paris, reported. The spire also collapsed during the fire.

Firefighters tackled large flames: At least seven firetrucks were trying to tackle the flames, she said. The smell of smoke was emanating through the air and embers were falling from the sky.

Cause unknown: The cause of the fire is still unclear.Police kept people away: Police urged everyone to avoid the area, and emergency services pushed people away from the scene.

French President Emmanuel Macron postponed a planned speech tonight because of the ongoing fire at Notre Dame cathedral, a Élysée Palace spokesperson said. He has since then arrived at the cathedral.

About the cathedral: Built in the 13th century, the medieval cathedral is considered a feat of architecture as much as a religious symbol. It is one of Paris’ most popular attractions, drawing an estimated 13 million visitors a year.

Video: You can see how huge the flames grew on CNN’s channel.

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Source:  edition.cnn.com/world