Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower was evacuated on Tuesday for safety reasons due to an electrical emergency, French media reported.
A fire alarm went off in the tower in the morning, after which visitors and staff working in the tower were immediately evacuated. In total, about 1,000 people were evacuated. The attraction is expected to reopen to visitors during the day.
Representatives of the Eiffel Tower Operator (SETE) told BFMTV that firefighters are now consulting with the tower’s technical services and conducting an investigation to establish the circumstances of the incident.
The fire at the Eiffel Tower comes just weeks after the opening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, which suffered a fire in 2019. The fire there started during restoration work. The open burning continued in Notre-Dame for more than nine hours. As a result, the spire and roof of the cathedral collapsed, but the facade, frame and towers were saved.
On August 12, 2023, the media reported that police evacuated people from three floors of the Eiffel Tower and the surrounding area shortly after receiving a bomb report. It was clarified that bomb squads were working at the site to check for explosives. It was later learnt that it had reopened to visitors.
The Eiffel Tower receives an average of 15,000 to 25,000 visitors each day.
