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Updated April 16th, 2019 at 21:50 IST

Here's why France said it couldn't use Donald Trump's "flying-water tankers" advice to put out the Notre-Dame fire

After a devastating fire that began on Monday at Paris' historic Notre Dame cathedral, Donald Trump's suggestion that "flying water tankers" could help put out the blaze was shot down by the French Civil Defence. The agency cited that water-bombing could cause the entire building to collapse.

Reported by: Urvee Koyari
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After a devastating fire that began on Monday at Paris' historic Notre Dame cathedral, Donald Trump's suggestion that "flying water tankers" could help put out the blaze was shot down by the French Civil Defence. The agency cited that water-bombing could cause the entire building to collapse.

The fire that broke out destroyed large parts of the roof and the iconic spire of the cathedral.

As the 850-year-old UNESCO world heritage landmark collapsed in front of the horrified onlookers, many world leaders expressed their concern on Twitter.

Trump proposed using aerial options to wipe out the fire engulfing the wooden ceiling beams which formed the frame for the soaring roof. However, the suggestion that came from the US President was deemed dangerous.

Here’s what Donald Trump had to say:

As he suggested to the officials in France to act quickly, the French civil security agency, Securite Civile, wrote a response explaining that any aerial water dumping could "weaken the structure of Notre-Dame and result in collateral damage to the buildings in the vicinity."

Securite Civile also informed that hundreds of firemen of the Paris fire brigade were doing everything they could but not use water-bombing aircraft to bring the horrible fire under control as it could lead to ‘collapsing of the entire structure of the cathedral’.

To which Trump later sent out a far more simple and supportive tweet:

READ | "We Will Rebuilt It Together": France's President Emmanuel Macron Makes A Notre Dame Vow After Devastating Blaze, World Leaders Express Support

A video released by the French Interior Ministry showed the scale of the response. Authorities deployed nearly 400 firefighters, pumped water from the Seine, evacuated the residents and flew drones to survey the damage.

(Establish a security perimeter, evacuate residents, fight the flames relentlessly. The forces of #secours & #security are mobilized for more than 3 hours and use all the means at their disposal to fight the fire #NotreDame #Paris # HérosduQuotidien)

As per global reports, one firefighter was injured in the efforts to save the historic monument.

While two-thirds of the 850-year-old UNESCO world heritage landmark's roofing has been ravaged in the tragic incident, the structure of the building including the two bell towers and the main edifice was saved.

The blaze was brought under control by the early hours of Tuesday with the help of the firefighters.

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Published April 16th, 2019 at 14:19 IST

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