French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday expressed the "emotion of a whole nation" on seeing the famed Notre-Dame cathedral ablaze and its spire collapse.

"Notre-Dame consumed by flames. Emotion of a whole nation," Macron tweeted, adding that "like all my compatriots I am sad to see a part of us burn this evening" and expressing solidarity with "all Catholics and all French people."

Macron, who cancelled a major policy speech to follow events, was on his way to the scene.

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