The blades of the Moulin Rouge windmill at the world-famous Parisian cabaret fell off on Wednesday night, the fire brigade told AFP, confirming a report by BFMTV.
No injuries were reported, the Paris fire brigade said, adding that there was no longer any risk of collapse. The reasons for the fall are not yet known.
"This is the first time an accident of this type has occurred since the Moulin Rouge was founded on 6 October 1889," the venue told AFP, adding that it had "no information" on the cause of the accident.
"Fortunately, it happened after closing time," said the same source, pointing out that "every week, the cabaret's technical management checks the mechanism of the windmill's wings and has found no problems."
Paris: les ailes du Moulin Rouge se sont effondrées cette nuit pic.twitter.com/nlueCcKXZU
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) April 25, 2024
The cabaret also recalled a significant fire incident due to construction work in 1915 that led to its closure for nine years. This marked the only other major incident at the famed temple of cancan dancing.
The famous establishment at the foot of the Montmartre hill – known for its lively Parisian nights alongside Lido and cancan dancers and in front of which thousands of visitors take photos every day – will celebrate its 135th anniversary on 6 October.
Moulin Rouge is open every day and hosts two shows with a capacity of 850 visitors each night, amounting to around 600,000 visitors annually.
