Emmanuel Macron Says He Wants Notre Dame Rebuilt Within Five Years

"We will rebuild Notre Dame even more beautifully."
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French President Emmanuel Macron says he wants to see Notre Dame rebuilt within five years.

“We will rebuild Notre Dame even more beautifully and I want it to be completed in five years, we can do it,” Macron said in a television address to the nation.

“It is up to us to change this disaster into an opportunity to come together, having deeply reflected on what we have been and what we have to be and become better than we are.

“It is up to us to find the thread of our national project.”

More than 600 million euro has been pledged to help rebuild the cathedral in the aftermath of the blaze.

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French President Emmanuel Macron gestures while addressing the French nation following a massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral, at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
Reuters

Firefighters fully extinguished the blaze, which tore through the French landmark on Monday evening, as the nation woke up to the devastation of its cultural and historic “epicentre”.

Just under 400 firefighters worked for more than 12 hours through the night, battling to stop the complete destruction of the treasured facade after flames torched the roof, sending its spire crashing to the ground.

Two police officers and one firefighter were injured during the blaze, which saw teams battle to save the structure of the 850-year-old Gothic masterpiece.