Fire breaks out at Eiffel Tower, 1,200 visitors evacuated

Around 1,200 tourists were evacuated from the Eiffel Tower on Tuesday following reports of a fire in one of its elevator shafts located between the first and second floors.

The fire, which occurred around 10:30 am due to overheating of an elevator cable, has been contained, according to sources cited by Euronews. Access to the tower was restricted during the firefighting operation.

The Eiffel Tower, a major tourist attraction, typically receives between 15,000 to 25,000 visitors daily. This incident marks the second major fire in the tower’s history.

The previous fire occurred in January 1956 when a blaze in the TV control room caused significant damage to the top section, leading to a year-long repair period and the addition of a new radio antenna.

The fire follows a significant event in Paris's recent history, with the Notre Dame Cathedral suffering extensive damage in a 2019 fire. The cathedral was closed for five years but reopened earlier this month.