A fund to rebuild the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has already reached the one billion euro mark less than 48 hours since the devastating blaze.
A fire ripped through the 850-year-old historic building at around 7pm local time on Monday evening, April 15, as horrified Parisians watched on.
But within hours, a fundraising appeal had been set up to help restore the French capital's cultural and historic "epicentre".
The fund has now surpassed the €1billion, around £866 million, mark following generous donation from people around the world.
Presidential cultural heritage envoy and TV personality Stephane Bern helped launch the appeal by saying Notre Dame was 'a close friend who almost disappeared'.
French president Emmanuel Macron has set a five-year deadline to restore the 12th-century landmark to its former glory as donations pour in from around the world.
Gucci billionaire, Francois-Henri Pinault, was one of the first to make a pledge, reportedly of more than 100 million euros (£86 million) on behalf of the Pinault family.
L’Oreal promised €200 million (£172.7million) yesterday, while the LVMH luxury goods group run by Bernard Arnault, the richest man in France, has pledged the same.
President Macron has also announced today an international competition for architects to rebuild the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral.
If the cathedral is restored in the within the five-year timeline, it will coincide with Paris hosting the 2024 Olympics.
In a television address, Mr Macron said: "We will rebuild Notre Dame even more beautifully and I want it to be completed in five years, we can do it.
"It is up to us to change this disaster into an opportunity to come together, having deeply reflected on what we have been and what we have to be and become better than we are.
"It is up to us to find the thread of our national project."
Around 400 firefighters worked for more than 12 hours through the night, battling to stop the complete destruction of the treasured facade after flames torched the roof, sending its spire crashing to the ground.
Despite fire racing through Notre Dame's roof, firefighters were able to prevent the blaze consuming the cathedral's main structure, including its two bell towers.
Many of the most treasured items stored inside the cathedral have also been saved.
The Crown of Thorns, regarded as Notre Dame's most sacred relic, was among the treasures quickly rescued from the blaze.
The cathedral's famous 18th-century organ which boasts more than 8,000 pipes also survived. Some of the paintings and other artworks are being dehumidified, protected and eventually restored at the Louvre.
It is expected to take several days to completely extinguish all remaining hotspots and secure the world-famous edifice.
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