The chief architect behind the restoration of Notre Dame is worried that the heatwave may cause the cathedral’s vaults to cave in.
The chief architect of the operation to restore Notre Dame is anxious that a record heatwave in France could cause the vaults of the historic cathedral to collapse.
Efforts have been underway to fortify the building since a large part of the roof and the cathedral’s spire was destroyed in a devastating fire on April 15. Three months on, as temperatures soar to record levels in Paris, Philippe Villeneuve told French media that he is concerned about the stability of the cathedral’s vaults.
“My worry is that the masonry joints, by dint of drying, will lose their coherence, their cohesion, and their structural integrity, and paf!, the vaults may fall,” Villeneuve explained to Euronews.
He was speaking as temperatures are forecast to hit a record 42°C (107.6°F) in Paris. The capital and 20 departments across northern France have been placed on high alert because of the heatwave.
Notre Dame’s already weakened structure is being closely monitored, but some parts of the vaults have yet to be consolidated. Experts working to secure the cathedral have been unable to reach them from any direction.[…]
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