Eiffel Tower evacuated after fire alarm sounds
The Eiffel Tower experienced a precautionary evacuation after its fire alarm was activated, prompting concern among visitors.
According to a statement from the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE) to Newsweek, the alarm was triggered by a short circuit in the power rail of an elevator situated between the second floor and the summit. Fortunately, there was no real danger to anyone.
This clarification came in response to earlier reports from French media suggesting that flames had erupted.
SETE confirmed that visitors were evacuated as part of standard safety protocols but soon announced that there was no threat. “After confirming there was no danger, firefighters left the scene. No visitors were put at risk,” the statement read.
The organisation is collaborating with firefighters, electrical maintenance teams, and elevator specialists to investigate the cause of the incident. While the tower was temporarily closed, it has since reopened up to the second floor.
The Eiffel Tower, celebrated as one of the world’s most renowned landmarks, attracts between 15,000 and 25,000 visitors daily, according to data from RoadGenius.
In January of this year, social media users shared photos and videos that incorrectly claimed the tower was on fire. It is worth noting that a significant fire did occur at the Eiffel Tower in January 1956 within its television transmission room.
Julien Tellier, a journalist for Boulevard Voltaire, reported that approximately 1,200 people were evacuated. Firefighters traced the origin of the smoke to overheated wiring. “The fire has been contained and is now extinguished. It is believed to have stemmed from an overheating device near a cable of one of the elevators,” Tellier stated.
Eyewitnesses took to X to share their experiences during the incident.
This incident occurred five years after the Notre Dame Cathedral suffered a devastating fire on April 15, 2019. That blaze raged for nearly 15 hours, resulting in extensive damage, including the collapse of the cathedral’s iconic spire.
Following the destruction, French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to restore the cathedral, stating, “We will rebuild the cathedral even more beautifully, and I want it to be finished within five years.”
The Notre Dame Cathedral is set to reopen this December with a guest list that includes world leaders and notable figures.
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