Ferlay said at a press conference outside the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul that the fire was not as big as the one that engulfed Notre Dame in April 2019 and the damage is not as severe.
“I can confirm that we are not in the situation of Notre Dame de Paris, the roof is not affected,” Ferlay told CNN affiliate BFM on Saturday.
“The damage is concentrated in the organ, which appears to be completely destroyed. Its platform is very unstable and could collapse,” he said.
Ferlay added that there are 104 firefighters on the scene, who will remain there “all day.”
‘Gothic jewel’
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted his “support” for firefighters who contained the fire on Saturday.
“After Notre-Dame, the cathedral of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, in the heart of Nantes, is on fire. I support our firefighters who take every risk to save this Gothic gem from the city of the Dukes “Macron said. wrote
French Prime Minister Jean Castex expressed “solidarity” to the people of Nantes in a tweet on Saturday morning.
“Thinking of our firefighters they bravely mobilized to contain the fire in the cathedral of Nantes. I assure you of my support and my deep gratitude,” he added.
France’s interior minister, culture minister and himself will visit Nantes on Saturday afternoon, the prime minister added.
Referring to a previous fire in the cathedral in 1972, the mayor of Nantes, Johanna Rolland, said that “it does not appear to be comparable”, while speaking to BFM.
Regional firefighters told the public in a previous tweet to “stay away from the area … do not interfere with the rescue squad.”
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