This photo shows the extent of the fire damage to Notre Dame. Photo: Gigarama.ru via APBells of cathedrals across France have rung in a moving tribute to Notre Dame as firefighters and experts continued to keep the beloved but weakened Paris landmark under close surveillance. "I just arrived for the first ring of the bells and immediately there was an emotion. Meanwhile, restoration specialists questioned President Emmanuel Macron's ambitious five-year reconstruction timeline for Notre Dame, with some suggesting it could take more than three times that amount of time to rebuild the 850-year-old architectural treasure. Nearly $US1 billion ($NZ1.48 billion) has been pledged for the cathedral's restoration, coming from ordinary worshippers and wealthy magnates, including those who own L'Oreal, Chanel and Dior.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 18, 2019 01:10 UTC