By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-12-24 16:26:33 | Updated at 2024-12-25 04:37:12
12 hours ago
Around 1,200 visitors were evacuated from the Eiffel Tower on Christmas Eve after a fire alarm was triggered at the iconic Paris landmark.
The incident occurred shortly after 10.30am when the alarm sounded, prompting an immediate evacuation of the monument.
Initial reports suggested a potential blaze in the lift shaft, leading emergency services to establish a security perimeter around the tower.
However, officials later confirmed the cause was a technical problem rather than an actual fire.
Emergency services were called into action after the alarm was raised
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A Father Christmas stands with emergency services in Paris
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The SETE spokesman also confirmed that there was no actual fire during the incident, stating: "No visitors were put in danger."
The evacuation was purely a precautionary measure in line with standard safety protocols.
Officials moved swiftly to investigate the cause of the alarm, with emergency services conducting thorough checks of the affected area.
The technical malfunction prompted immediate action from tower management, demonstrating the strict safety measures in place at the landmark.
An image of confused tourists near the Eiffel Tower
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A police source later confirmed that any concerns about a potential blaze had been addressed, with the situation fully under control by midday local time.
Following investigations, officials announced the tower would "reopen gradually during the day".
The Eiffel Tower, which stands at 1,083ft tall, welcomes approximately six million visitors annually.
Fire security has been heightened at all Paris monuments since the devastating Notre Dame Cathedral blaze in 2019.
Notre Dame
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The Christmas Eve incident occurred shortly after the unveiling of Notre Dame's nearly £1billion restoration.
Prince William and incoming US President Donald Trump were among those attending the reopening ceremony.
The Eiffel Tower typically receives up to 25,000 visitors daily at its location in Champ de Mars.
A separate fire was reported earlier that morning at rue de la Pépinière, near St Lazare train station, though this was unrelated to the tower incident.
