This archive report was first published on 18 July 2020.
On July 18, 2020, a major fire engulfed the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul in Nantes, France, prompting an emergency response from local authorities.
The gothic structure, under construction since the 15th century, was last hit by fire in 1972, with its roof taking over 13 years to repair.
Just a few years ago, in 2015, a fire ravaged the Basilica of St Donatian and St Rogatian in Nantes, destroying three-quarters of its roof.
Notably, the devastating fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in April 2019 serves as a recent reminder of the vulnerability of historic structures to such disasters.
