The chief architect of France’s historic monuments
says he’s afraid that the heat wave sweeping
Europe could cause the vaulted ceilings of fire-
ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral to collapse.
Dozens of sensors dotted around the 12th-
century monument have shown no indication
that it’s deteriorating, but architect Philippe
Villeneuve is worried.
Villeneuve told reporters Wednesday the stone
walls are still saturated with water sprayed
by firefighters during the April 15 blaze. He
says they could dry too fast amid the record
temperatures expected in Paris this week.
He said so far the masonry is stable but the
structure remains fragile. He said “what I fear is that
the joints or the masonry, as they dry, lose their
cohesion ... and all of sudden, the vault gives way.”
Specialists are working to stabilize the cathedral’s
structure before reconstruction work begins.
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