The historic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer went up in flames.
The church, unveiled in the 1850s, has been destroyed.
Ninety firefighters were mobilized to combat the flames.
interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on X that the fire was under control. He added that his “thoughts are with the Catholics and the inhabitants of Saint-Omer.”
What caused the fire remains unknown, although some speculate the inferno was caused by arson.
“Is this definitely arson?” Elon Musk asked.
An image circulating on social media showed the damage caused by the fire, revealing that the church’s bell tower and steeple collapsed.
