Paris’s iconic windmill sails of the Moulin Rouge, a vibrant emblem of French city’s bohemian lifestyle, collapsed Thursday after a show. The incident took place shortly before 2 a.m., after the last performance of the night had ended and the audience had left the historic cabaret venue, renowned for its dazzling shows and can-can dancers. No injuries were reported.

Jean-Victor Clerico, the director of Moulin Rouge, told French media that a “technical problem” led to the windmill’s sails and part of the cabaret’s illuminated sign crashing to the ground.

Despite the setback, Clerico said that the show at Moulin Rouge will go on, emphasizing the cabaret’s resilience and commitment to continuing its legacy. “The show continues, that’s the most important thing,” he said.

Eric Lejoindre, mayor of Paris’s 18th district, confirmed on X that the structure was not in danger of further collapse. He conveyed relief over the safety of both Parisians and visitors.

Local Sylvain Lemerle said it was lucky no one was hurt, adding, “It will be strange for the tourists who will take pictures without the sails, it looks a bit naked but it will be replaced, and certainly quicker than Notre Dame,” he said, referring to the historic Paris cathedral that was ravaged by a fire in 2019.

In other Paris news

Air passengers travelling to and from Paris experienced significant disruptions Thursday, despite a decision by air traffic controllers to cancel a strike after last-minute negotiations. Flight operations were substantially reduced because of adjustments made to schedules ahead of the proposed industrial action.

French civil aviation authorities had pre-emptively requested airlines to cut their flights significantly – by 75% at Paris-Orly, 55% at Charles-de-Gaulle, and 65% at Marseille-Provence, with varying reductions across other French airports. As a result, operations were severely limited, also affecting international flights that cross French airspace.

While the flights that did operate faced only moderate delays, significant cancellations and scheduling adjustments led to continued travel difficulties for thousands of passengers. The fallout was particularly noticeable at major airports like Paris-Orly, where delays compounded the day’s challenges.