Historic Church in Saint-Omer, Pas-de-Calais, Destroyed by Fire; Bell Tower Collapses

Sep 2, 2024, 12:14 PM

The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer, Pas-de-Calais, France, was destroyed by a fire that broke out on Sunday night. The historic church, built in 1854 and having survived two World Wars, saw its roof and bell tower collapse in the blaze. This incident is part of a concerning pattern in France, where churches are reportedly being destroyed by fire at an alarming rate, with 40 churches burned since January 2023. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and it took 90 firefighters to battle the blaze. The church, located near Calais and Dunkirk, had undergone renovations in 2017.