New menace to fire-damaged Notre Dame Cathedral: Warmth wave

The chief architect of France’s historic monuments says he is afraid that the warmth wave sweeping Europe may trigger the vaulted ceilings of fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral to break down.

Dozens of sensors dotted across the 12th-century monument have proven no indication that it is deteriorating, however architect Philippe Villeneuve is apprehensive.

Villeneuve instructed reporters Wednesday the stone partitions are nonetheless saturated with water sprayed by firefighters through the April 15 blaze. He says they might dry too quick amid the report temperatures anticipated in Paris this week.

He mentioned to this point the masonry is steady however the construction stays fragile. He mentioned “what I concern is that the joints or the masonry, as they dry, lose their cohesion … and abruptly, the vault provides method.”

Specialists are working to stabilize the cathedral’s construction earlier than reconstruction work begins.