Notre Dame Cathedral’s ceilings may yet collapse, French official warns

The ceilings of the Notre Dame Cathedral are still at risk of collapsing after the devastating fire last year that destroyed the roof of the Parisian landmark, a French general overseeing the reconstruction said. 

“Notre Dame is not saved because … there is an extremely important step ahead, which is to remove the scaffolding that had been built around the spire,” Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin said, according to The Associated Press, which cited a Sunday interview the general had with French broadcaster CNews. 

Last April’s fire destroyed Notre Dame’s lead roof and spire. 

Georgelin reportedly said the condition of the cathedral’s vaults are not fully known and he cannot guarantee that “it won’t fall apart.” 

“To make sure, we need to inspect them, to remove the rubble that is still on them, it’s a very difficult work that we have started,” he said, according to the AP.

The rector of Notre Dame Monsignor Patrick told the news service last month that there’s a “50 percent chance” the landmark will be saved. He added that there’s also a 50 percent chance the scaffolding could fall onto the three vaults. 

Georgelin said the scaffolding on Notre Dame should be removed by mid-2020 and he said that restoration should begin next year, the AP noted.