Eiffel Tower evacuated after fire alarm malfunction at famous Paris attraction
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On Christmas Eve, the Eiffel Tower was cleared out due to a fire alarm activation.
Some areas of the Paris attraction have been temporarily closed to visitors, and the organizers are planning to gradually reopen the tower during the day, at least up to the second floor.
First responders quickly arrived at the location due to concerns that a fire might have broken out at the famous French landmark.
According to the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), the problem was eventually traced back to a short circuit in the elevator's power rail.
A technical issue arose between the second floor and the top of the monument, triggering the fire alarm at 10:50 AM.
SETE stated that they cleared the area around the monument "following the established safety protocols."
A spokesperson mentioned that "no visitors were at risk," adding that firefighters and technicians are working to determine the cause of the situation.
The Eiffel Tower has been going through some maintenance, which includes repainting sections of the structure, upgrading the lift in the North pillar, and refurbishing the lifts that transport visitors from the second floor to the summit.
The tower, which served as a focal point for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics this year, was finished in 1889.
The 2019 fire at Notre Dame cathedral left a lasting mark on Paris, resulting in the destruction of its wooden interior and the downfall of its iconic spire.
The cathedral's reopening this month was celebrated as a significant achievement, following five years of hard work by a team of 2,000 masons, carpenters, restorers, roofers, and engineers who dedicated themselves to its restoration.
The renovation was said to have cost approximately €700 million (about £582 million).
