After the Great Fire of Notre-Dame de Paris: On-site Reality
The roof still features the iron scaffolding structure of Notre-Dame, scorched by fire.
Note on the right - Workers on an aerial lift are busy inspecting the safety structure of the scaffolding at the disaster site of Notre-Dame.
Amidst a pile of ashes and smoke inside the church, a golden cross miraculously stands. Image from AFP.
Shocked and incredulous Parisians crowded around Île de la Cité and along the banks of the Seine to watch.
Surrounded by global media live broadcast vehicles and reporters, creating a spectacular scene.
A spectacular sight on the Tournelle Bridge, which has become a global media live broadcast platform (broadcast vehicles and field tents).

Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. The shocking and devastating fire at Notre-Dame de Paris, which stunned the world last night, was finally extinguished after a night of heroic struggle by firefighters. What has become of the magnificent Notre-Dame after being consumed by flames? This has sparked global curiosity and scrutiny. According to media reports of the disaster, this World Heritage site seems to have turned into a pile of ashes. While such sensationalism serves news value, it is heartbreaking to witness the disappearance of Paris’s unique beauty.

Such reports suggest that the "Virgin Mary," the guardian deity protecting Paris for over eight hundred years, has suffered calamity. This woke Parisians from their midnight dreams. Since last night, Île de la Cité has been almost completely blocked off by military and police forces, surrounded by a spectacle of global media broadcast trucks and journalists. Shocked and disbelieving Parisians, along with pilgrims from around the world, crowded the areas surrounding Île de la Cité and along the Seine River outside thealert lines. Driven by intense curiosity, I also arrived on-site to witness and record this moment of historical catastrophe, silently participating in this alternative collective consciousness pilgrimage and prayer on April 15th.

After the great fire at Notre-Dame de Paris, witnessing the scene firsthand reveals that, miraculously, the exterior stone structure remains almost entirely intact. The roof spire and main wooden structural elements were completely consumed by fire, turning to ash and collapsing. Only the stone supports holding the colorful rose windows on the north and south facades (reportedly undamaged) survived the blaze. Inside the hollow roof, iron support structures used during previous renovations of Notre-Dame, scorched by fire, still span across. Only the center was blackened by smoke. Workers on aerial lifts were busy inspecting the safety of the support structures at the disaster site.

What about the cultural relics inside the locked-down Notre-Dame? Their condition awaits post-disaster assessment. Currently, we can only imagine based on a single photo from Agence France-Presse. Amidst piles of ash and smoke between the church's stone pillars, a golden cross stands behind the cathedral altar. Is this not a miracle?

While Notre-Dame was engulfed in flames, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the rescue site that night. He also posted a condolence message on Twitter: "Notre-Dame de Paris is being swallowed by fire; the shock felt by the entire nation is indescribable. Tonight, I pray with all Catholics and with all of France. Like my compatriots, tonight's flames burn us as well, leaving me heartbroken." The President also delivered a public speech outlining his determination to rebuild Notre-Dame de Paris. France (or Paris) quickly wiped away its tears, prioritizing the restoration of its guardian temple—the Cathedral. Human willpower and perseverance are unimaginably magical; indeed, all civilizations are born from ashes.