According to Euronews sources, the incident has been brought under control. Access to the tower has been restricted while the incident is being dealt with. The cause of the incident was an overheating of one of the elevator cables at around 10:30 a.m. on December 24 (local time), which triggered the fire alarm.
The Eiffel Tower management denied that a fire had broken out at the tourist attraction. A spokesperson for SETE, the company that manages the Eiffel Tower, confirmed that the evacuation was carried out in accordance with safety procedures, and that no casualties or visitors were in danger.
Management has committed to reviewing and enhancing safety procedures following the incident. This includes a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident and a comprehensive inspection of all electromechanical systems.
Visitors with tickets for the coming days should check official channels for updates on Eiffel Tower opening times. Those affected by the temporary closure will be offered refunds or rescheduled visits.
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous towers in the world, welcoming an average of 15,000 to 25,000 visitors per day.
The incident comes as the French capital remains haunted by the devastating fire that nearly destroyed Notre Dame Cathedral, another famous landmark, in 2019.
This Gothic masterpiece was closed for five years and just reopened to the public in early December 2024.
