International community mourns burning of Notre Dame

"Like all our compatriots, I am sad this evening to see this part of all of us burn," said French President Emmanuel Macron as the scale of the devastation to the 12th-century cathedral became apparent.

It was a sentiment shared not only by many of those who watched on TV screens, social media and in person as flames tore through the roof of the 850-year-old building, causing its spire to collapse and untold damage within.