Notre Dame Cathedral Fire: Photos Show Destruction After Blaze

Sadness and disbelief still linger a day after a catastrophic fire engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the world's most treasured landmarks.

Newly released photos show the almost 900-year-old building hours after firefighters declared success after a more-than 12-hour battle to extinguish the flames. Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz stated that the first fire alert sounded off at 6:20 p.m., but no fire was found until 6:43 p.m. when a second alert went off. Authorities consider the horrific blaze an accident, most likely a result of restoration work, reports AP. Heitz said an inquiry into the fire would be "long and complex," with over fifty investigators interviewing workers from across five companies hired to carry out the renovations.

In the end, the fire claimed the structure's iconic roof and spire, but spared its bell towers and worldwide treasures, including the Crown of Christ.

See photos of Notre Dame cathedral before and after the fire below:

Wednesday April 17, 2019

One of the iconic stained glass windows of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Nearly $1 billion has already poured in from ordinary worshippers and high-powered magnates around the world to restore Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after a massive fire.

A worker checks on a wooden support structure placed on the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

A firefighter watches a preserved gargoyle of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

Notre Dame Cathedral would have been completely burned to the ground in a "chain reaction collapse" had firefighters not moved rapidly in deploying their equipment to battle the blaze racing through the landmark monument, a Paris official said Wednesday.

Tourists and others photograph the damage to the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

Tuesday April 16, 2019

An image made available by Gigarama.ru on Wednesday April 17, 2019 shows an aerial shot of the fire damage to Notre Dame cathedral in Paris on Tuesday April 16.

A hole is seen in the dome inside the damaged Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

Debris is seen inside Notre Dame cathedral after the fire.

A hole is seen in the dome inside Notre Dame cathedral in Paris .

A man is pictured near charred glass windows of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

A hole is seen in the dome inside the damaged Notre Dame cathedral.

A crane lifts experts as they inspect the damaged Notre Dame cathedral hours after the fire in Paris was finally put out, Tuesday, April 16, 2019.

View of the Notre Dame cathedral after the fire in Paris.

Firefighters work at the facade of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

Experts assessed the blackened shell of Paris' iconic Notre Dame Tuesday morning to establish next steps to save what remains after a devastating fire destroyed much of the cathedral that had survived almost 900 years of history.

Monday April 15, 2019

French President Emmanuel Macron walks by Notre Dame Cathedral during his visit to the site in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019.

Firefighters tackle the blaze as flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris.

Flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns.

Firefighters spray water onto the facade of Notre Dame cathedral to stop the spread of a fire late Monday evening.

People pray as they watch Notre Dame cathedral burning in Paris.

Flames and smoke rise from the blaze at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

A firefighter tackles the blaze as flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris.

Flames rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns.

People watch as flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris.

Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris.

A closer look at flames rising from Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

People watch as flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris.

Flames and smoke rise as the spire on Notre Dame cathedral collapses in Paris.

AP contributed to this post.