Monday, a fire broke out at the Notre- Dame Cathedral in Paris. According to the New York Times, around 500 firefighters fought the fire for five hours. Two thirds of the roof ended up being destroyed, but the structure was said to be preserved as a whole. The spire also collapsed.

The fire was reportedly caused by an electrical short circuit. The cathedral was in the beginning stages of restorations.

Backlash has occurred after billionaires Francois Henri Pinault and Bernard Arnault each pledged more than $100 million to the restoration efforts; people have been protesting that this money should go to other causes that are more of a crisis, such as helping the poor.