Fire forces Eiffel Tower closure
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Tourists were evacuated after the fire broke out.
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Eiffel Tower on fire (July 22)
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PARIS, France -- A fire in France's Eiffel Tower has forced more than 3,000 people to be evacuated from the popular tourist landmark.
Smoke could be seen billowing from the top of the tower Tuesday after an electrical fire broke out in an area housing television equipment.
The tower was evacuated as smoke poured from the third floor Tuesday, police told CNN.
The fire erupted in a knot of cables just below the tower's broadcast antenna but was put out after 40 minutes, fire official Christian Decolloredo said according to The Associated Press.
Police said the cause was not immediately known.
Fire crews brought the blaze under control as a Civil Protection helicopter hovered overhead.
No injuries have been reported, and the blaze appeared to be in an area inaccessible to tourists.
A Reuters reporter close to the tower said there was a "fairly thin trail" of gray smoke sifting into the blue sky.
The 325 meter (1,069 foot) iron-laced tower draws six million visitors a year, making it among the most popular paying tourist attractions in the world.
The tower was built by Gustav Eiffel for the 1889 World's Fair.
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
