A fire broke out in one of the elevators of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Tuesday, December 24, leading to the evacuation of approximately 1,200 visitors.
According to various reports, the fire originated in the elevator shaft, the vertical passage where the elevator operates, between the first and second floors of the iconic landmark. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. and was attributed to overheating of an elevator cable.
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Emergency services responded promptly to the scene, ensuring the fire was brought under control and that everyone remained safe. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported.
The Eiffel Tower’s management company, Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), stated that the evacuation was carried out “in accordance with current safety procedures.” They further assured, “No visitors were endangered, and investigations by firefighters and technicians are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.”
This is not the first time the Eiffel Tower has faced such an event. In January 1956, a significant fire broke out in its TV control room, causing extensive damage to the top section of the structure, which took a year to repair.