Sometimes disasters bring people together in ways that are unusual and even touching.

The fire at Notre Dame Cathedral has elicited a powerful response from the entirety of the French nation, as well as sad onlookers around the globe.

The wealthy in France have already raised over $700 million towards fixing what can be fixed at what’s left at Notre Dame. The billionaire donors that contributed to that $700 million figure are all owners of major businesses in France. Among the largest donors are the Arnault family, the owners of LVMH group, who donated $200 million to the cause of fixing the world-renowned cultural landmark. L’Oreal’s Bettencourt Meyers family is also donating $200 million. The Pinault family, which owns the Kering brand will be donating $100 million. Among other big donors is the gas company, Total, which will donate another $100 million towards reconstruction efforts.

The fire that broke out at Notre Dame on Monday spread very quickly and lasted hours before finally being extinguished. The cause of the fire is still unknown, and authorities are still investigating the incident. The authorities are currently treating the incident as an accident. Notre Dame was, and still remains a cultural landmark of massive significance for French history, architecture, and culture, as well as being a generally magnificent work of art. It can be expected that more efforts will be put into reconstruction, from many facets of French and global society.