The Moulin Rouge Windmill’s blades, a well-known landmark in Paris, collapsed

Paris: Just months before the French capital hosts the Olympics, the Moulin Rouge windmill’s blades fell during the night, according to firemen on Thursday. The windmill is one of the city’s most well-known symbols.
Firefighters in Paris said that there was no chance of another collapse. The accident’s cause remained unknown.

“Luckily, this occurred after closing,” an unnamed Moulin Rouge representative told AFP.

The source stated, “Every week, the cabaret’s technical teams check the windmill mechanism and did not note any problems,” but provided no other details on the cause of the fall.

The source said, “It’s the first time that an accident like this has happened since” the cabaret’s October 6, 1889 opening.

Pictures of the blade unit appeared on social media, laying on the street below, some of the blades slightly twisted from what seemed to be a fall.

One of the most popular tourist destinations in Paris is the Moulin Rouge cabaret, which is known for its eye-catching red windmill blades. It is situated in the city’s north.

Located at the base of Montmartre Hill, it first opened its doors in October 1889 and is renowned as the origin of the can-can, a contemporary dance style.

It gained popularity rapidly, and now most visitors’ lists of things to do in the French capital include stopping by to admire its architecture or see a performance inside.

The mishap will heighten worries about whether Paris, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, is prepared to welcome the thousands of more people who will arrive for the Olympic Games in July and August.

The landmark’s sole significant mishap was a fire that broke out in 1915 while construction was underway, forcing the venue to shut down for nine years.