Panic as fire breaks out at top of Eiffel Tower

A SMALL fire near the top of the Eiffel Tower was extinguished shortly after erupting yesterday, Paris police said. The fire caused panic among tourists but no injuries.

The fire was out at around 8pm local time, just 40 minutes after it was reported, said fire official Christian Decolloredo. It appeared to originate among a knot of cables in a telecommunications room.

Decolloredo said the fire occurred on a floor accessible to tourists. Earlier, the company that operates the Eiffel Tower said the fire broke out on an upper level where technical installations are located and not accessible to the public.