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WORLD leaders and celebs have mourned the loss of the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after a devastating fire.

French President Emmanuel Macron defiantly declared “we will rebuild” after attending the scene of the catastrophic blaze which broke out at 5.30pm.

Public figures from around the world have expressed their shock at the horrific blaze which has wrecked much of Notre DameCredit: AFP or licensors

He said he was "sad to see this part of us burn" as he responded to the fire, which destroyed the 850-year-old church’s spire and much of its roof.

In French, Mr Macron wrote on Twitter: "Our Lady of Paris in flames. Emotion of a whole nation. Thought for all Catholics and for all French.

"Like all our countrymen, I'm sad tonight to see this part of us burn."

French billionaire François-Henri Pinault, who is married to Hollywood actress Salma Hayek, has pledged €100million to help rebuild the cathedral.

Former US president Barack Obama shared his condolences and a message to rebuild "as strong as we can".

He tweeted: "Notre Dame is one of the world's great treasures, and we're thinking of the people of France in your time of grief.

"It's in our nature to mourn when we see history lost - but it's also in our nature to rebuild for tomorrow, as strong as we can."

Notre Dame is one of the world's great treasures, and we're thinking of the people of France in your time of grief
Former US President Barack Obama

Current US President Donald Trump said: "So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly!"

Mr Trump's vice president Mike Pence said it was "heartbreaking to see a house of God in flames", describing the cathedral as "an iconic symbol of faith to people all over the world".

From the UK Prime Minister Twitter account Theresa May said: "My thoughts are with the people of France tonight and with the emergency services who are fighting the terrible blaze at Notre-Dame cathedral."

Former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said Notre Dame showed that humans could "unite for a higher purpose".

"My heart goes out to Paris," she tweeted.

President Macron has insisted that France will 'rebuild' the famous landmarkCredit: Reuters

Billionaire tycoon François-Henri Pinault, husband of Hollywood actress Salma Hayek, has pledged €100million to help rebuild Notre DameCredit: Getty Images - Getty

US President Trump has offered advice to those fighting the flamesCredit: Twitter

French President Macron expressed his sadness at the devastating fireCredit: Twitter

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has offered sympathy to the French following the catastrophic fire

Notre Dame cathedral fire - Plumes of smoke seen rising from building in Paris

"Notre Dame is a symbol of our ability as human beings to unite for a higher purpose - to build breathtaking spaces for worship that no one person could have built on their own.

"I wish France strength and shared purpose as they grieve and rebuild."

Westminster Abbey in central London said on its official Twitter account that it was "devastated".

"Devastated for our friends at #NotreDame and for the people of France," it tweeted. "You are in our thoughts and prayers tonight."

The Archbishop of Canterbury said he was praying for "everyone in France and beyond who watches and weeps".

He tweeted: "Tonight we pray for the firefighters tackling the tragic #NotreDame fire - and for everyone in France and beyond who watches and weeps for this beautiful, sacred place where millions have met with Jesus Christ."

Our Lady of Paris belongs to the whole of mankind. What a sad spectacle
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker

Leaders of the European Union shared thoughts on the news, with European Council president Donald Tusk tweeting: "We are all with Paris today."

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker described the fire as a "horror".

In a press release written in French, Mr Juncker said: "I am minute by minute the fire of which Notre-Dame de Paris is the prey.

"Our Lady of Paris belongs to the whole of mankind. What a sad spectacle. What a horror.

"I share the emotion of the French nation which is also ours."

In an apparent response to the fire, Professor Brian Cox said he had a "powerful sense of the precarious nature of existence".

He tweeted: "The great achievements of our civilisation are so precious and so fragile and we take them for granted until they vanish in a single spring evening.

"I have a powerful sense of the precarious nature of existence tonight."

Pictures show that a turret on the cathedral has collapsed

Dramatic pictures show the church's iconic spire collapsingCredit: AFP or licensors

The catastrophic fire wrecked the Gothic roof of the legendary Parisian landmark

Pop star Dua Lipa expressed her shock at the horrific fire

Professor Brian Cox reflected on the tragedy in Paris

Notre Dame saved from total destruction

A fire service spokesman said the two towers and the main structure of the cathedral have been saved by 400 heroic firefighters from complete destruction.
France's Deputy Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said “the fire had decreased in intensity"
Emmanuel Gregoire, the deputy mayor of Paris, said the cathedral had suffered "colossal damages" and that emergency workers were trying to salvage the art and other priceless pieces stored inside.
Scaffolding that had been set up around the building has been decimated along with large parts of the Cathedral itself, including the spire, which dates back to the mid-19th Century.
French prosecutors have launched an investigation although arson has been ruled out as a "stray flame" linked to £5 million renovation work is thought to have sparked the inferno in the loft at around 5.30pm local time.

TV historian Dan Snow cited other damaging fires on monuments as evidence that Notre Dame "will rise again".

He tweeted: "It's overwhelming but remember that York Minster and Hampton Court burned in the 80s, Windsor Castle in the 90s and Cutty Sark in the 00s. Dresden's Frauenkirche, the Catherine Palace...

"What we build, we can rebuild. Their essence endures.

"#NotreDame will rise again."

Many other celebrities responded, with British pop star Dua Lipa saying she was "heartbroken" by the fire.

"So much history collapsing right before our eyes," she tweeted. "Heartbroken for Notre-Dame and Paris."