A large blaze inside one of France's historic cathedrals is suspected to be arson, officials said.
Around a hundred firefighters battled the fire inside Nantes' 15th-Century gothic cathedral's facade.
The fire is thought to have broken out early this morning and has since been contained.
Video shows smoke coming out of the front of the structure, with the stained glass window, between the two huge towers, blown out.
#Nantes La cathédrale de Nantes en proie aux énormes flammes.. 😥
Soutien et pensées aux pompiers. pic.twitter.com/PoUUXa10xR— Samuel Levy (@Samu_Lev_Bensus) July 18, 2020
Fire officers have said they believe the blaze, which centres on "the great organ", is now under control.
The roof is not thought to be affected.
Prosecutor Pierre Sennes told reporters three fires had been started at the site and authorities are treating the incident as 'a criminal act'.
French officials launched an arson inquiry.
The cathedral was partly destroyed during World War Two after bombings in 1944 and in 1972, a fire ravaged the roof, which was rebuilt 13 years later.
The city's mayor, Johanna Rolland, told reporters: "It is a part of our history, a part of our heritage.
"We all have these images in mind, this story in our hearts, but at this stage the situation does not seem to be comparable to that of 1972."
Prime Minister Jean Castex and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin were due to visit this afternoon
The fire comes just over a year after an enormous blaze destroyed the roof and main spire of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.
Reporting by IRN
