Notre Dame Cathedral is burning down...

[Yukaphile]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47941794

Say goodbye to 856 years of history. Still, could this be a terrorist attack?

[ChiggyvonRichthofen]

Apparently it was undergoing renovations.

What a disaster. Obviously it has a special significance for Catholics, but for anyone with an interest in history, art, architecture, etc., it's just a catastrophe.

[FaxModem1]

This was on my bucket list to see, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, and now I may never get the chance.

My sig seems rather appropriate today.

[Admiral X]

[clearspira]

The evidence currently points to accident. You've got to feel for the workmen - imagine knowing that you destroyed one of the most famous buildings in history.

[Yukaphile]

My mom thinks it's some dude who was smoking and didn't put it out properly. Can you imagine that, if true? Just picture being the asshole who will be forever remembered for destroying this immemorial building that would've outlived you, that's older than you are, all because of a crude, gross, disgusting habit that you can't control. Parents will suddenly use him as an example on why you shouldn't smoke - because then you don't burn down 800-year-old buildings!

[Madner Kami]

Any number of things could have caused the fire, not just a cigarette carelessly thrown away. Given they were in the process of repairing some damage to the building, it could easily be a broken cable or tool short-circuiting in the absence of the workers. Pointless to speculate about the cause at this point in time.

Also, I need to point out that a cathedral like Notre Dame is rather unlikely to be completely destroyed by a fire. The thing's a veritable mountain of stone and not your run-of-the-mill US cardboard house. Much of what was made of wood, like the spire or the roof, will be gone, but this thing is still going to stand tall, just have a look at how the cathedral in Cologne looked after the city was bombed and burned into a smoldering ruin. It's a tragic loss, no doubt, but much of Notre Dame will remain to stand tall and be rebuilt and you can still go and have a look at it. The real loss is, what relics and arts probably burned down inside.

[Yukaphile]

My right-wing friends were fearmongering, thinking it was a terrorist attack. Seriously.

[Robovski]

The stained glass the cathedral is famous for is very easily damaged by fire, not to mention any other art the cathedral contained and any relics.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

I heard somewhere that most of the artifacts had been moved out of that area for the renovation.