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| Notre Dame fire: artworks to be sent to Louvre as donations pour in – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| We’re closing our live coverage for today. Here’s a link to our latest dispatch from Paris: | |
| 'On our watch we let it burn': Notre Dame fire leaves hole in heart of Paris | |
| Police and fire services will spend the next 48 hours assessing the “security and safety” of Notre Dame Cathedral after a fire at the historic monument in the centre of Paris on Monday evening. | Police and fire services will spend the next 48 hours assessing the “security and safety” of Notre Dame Cathedral after a fire at the historic monument in the centre of Paris on Monday evening. |
| Laurent Nuñez, a junior interior minister, said on Tuesday that the primary concern of French authorities now was identifying weaknesses in the centuries-old structure. | Laurent Nuñez, a junior interior minister, said on Tuesday that the primary concern of French authorities now was identifying weaknesses in the centuries-old structure. |
| Private donors have pledged hundreds of millions of euros to help rebuild Notre Dame. | Private donors have pledged hundreds of millions of euros to help rebuild Notre Dame. |
| The French billionaire Bernard Arnault announced on Tuesday that he and the LVMH luxury conglomerate he controls would donate €200m (£170m) to the reconstruction efforts. | The French billionaire Bernard Arnault announced on Tuesday that he and the LVMH luxury conglomerate he controls would donate €200m (£170m) to the reconstruction efforts. |
| France’s culture minister says the “most precious treasures” of the cathedral have been saved after a devastating fire, including the crown of thorns Catholic relic and the tunic of Saint Louis. | France’s culture minister says the “most precious treasures” of the cathedral have been saved after a devastating fire, including the crown of thorns Catholic relic and the tunic of Saint Louis. |
| Franck Reister told reporters outside Notre Dame that other works were being transferred from a storeroom in City Hall to the Louvre on Tuesday and Wednesday. There they will be dehumidified, protected and eventually restored. | Franck Reister told reporters outside Notre Dame that other works were being transferred from a storeroom in City Hall to the Louvre on Tuesday and Wednesday. There they will be dehumidified, protected and eventually restored. |
| Pope Francis has been offering his prayers that Notre Dame, the “architectural gem of a collective memory”, will once again be a shrine to the Catholic faith, a symbol of the French nation and a spiritual and architectural gift to humanity. | Pope Francis has been offering his prayers that Notre Dame, the “architectural gem of a collective memory”, will once again be a shrine to the Catholic faith, a symbol of the French nation and a spiritual and architectural gift to humanity. |
| The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said he was “sad to see this part of us burn”, later tweeting that the cathedral would be rebuilt and announcing an international fundraising campaign to pay for reconstruction. | The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said he was “sad to see this part of us burn”, later tweeting that the cathedral would be rebuilt and announcing an international fundraising campaign to pay for reconstruction. |
| A heritage fire safety expert has said his heart sinks and he fears for the worst every time he sees scaffolding on a historic building. | A heritage fire safety expert has said his heart sinks and he fears for the worst every time he sees scaffolding on a historic building. |
| Stewart Kidd said all construction sites were inherently dangerous places, but the danger was so much higher in a heritage building. | Stewart Kidd said all construction sites were inherently dangerous places, but the danger was so much higher in a heritage building. |
| “We’re talking about timber, we’re talking about very dry buildings because they are old, we’re talking about nooks and crannies, we’re talking about voids and ducts where fire can spread unseen and pop out a long way from where it started.” | “We’re talking about timber, we’re talking about very dry buildings because they are old, we’re talking about nooks and crannies, we’re talking about voids and ducts where fire can spread unseen and pop out a long way from where it started.” |
| He said data from Scotland suggested that about 8-12% of fires in heritage buildings occured when contractors were present. | He said data from Scotland suggested that about 8-12% of fires in heritage buildings occured when contractors were present. |
| “What we know is that any kind of hot work, effectively any form of heat application during construction, is dangerous. So not just welding, not just brazing, it is also cutting, it is also grinding, it is also soldering and it is particularly lead work on roofs.” | “What we know is that any kind of hot work, effectively any form of heat application during construction, is dangerous. So not just welding, not just brazing, it is also cutting, it is also grinding, it is also soldering and it is particularly lead work on roofs.” |
| Kidd, a consultant who has written numerous books on fire risks in heritage buildings, pointed to the loss of the National Trust country house Uppark in 1989 which occurred while contractors were putting a new roof on after the 1987 gales. “They applied too much heat and set fire to the timber under the lead which smouldered and then burst into flames. | Kidd, a consultant who has written numerous books on fire risks in heritage buildings, pointed to the loss of the National Trust country house Uppark in 1989 which occurred while contractors were putting a new roof on after the 1987 gales. “They applied too much heat and set fire to the timber under the lead which smouldered and then burst into flames. |
| “I would be very surprised if the same hasn’t happened in Paris, that this wasn’t the cause.” | “I would be very surprised if the same hasn’t happened in Paris, that this wasn’t the cause.” |
| Many historic buildings have spaces between the ceiling and the roof, which appears to be the case at Notre Dame. | Many historic buildings have spaces between the ceiling and the roof, which appears to be the case at Notre Dame. |
| “It is exactly what happened at Windsor Castle when the fire broke into St George’s Hall. That is such a common design feature in old buildings, a false ceiling … they are more vulnerable when they have it because firefighters can’t get to it and it will spread to the point where it destroys the structure.” | “It is exactly what happened at Windsor Castle when the fire broke into St George’s Hall. That is such a common design feature in old buildings, a false ceiling … they are more vulnerable when they have it because firefighters can’t get to it and it will spread to the point where it destroys the structure.” |
| He said the sad thing was that nobody appeared to learn from such cases. | He said the sad thing was that nobody appeared to learn from such cases. |
| “If I see scaffolding being erected on a heritage building my heart sinks because I know it has got a strong probability of a fire.” | “If I see scaffolding being erected on a heritage building my heart sinks because I know it has got a strong probability of a fire.” |
| Kidd said in the UK the only legislation was around the protection of people, not that of the building. “The government view is that property protection is a matter for the property owner and his or her insurer. They consistently refuse to get involved.” | Kidd said in the UK the only legislation was around the protection of people, not that of the building. “The government view is that property protection is a matter for the property owner and his or her insurer. They consistently refuse to get involved.” |
| If there was any consolation to be taken from Notre Dame, he said, it was that it did not appear to have had any timber beams replaced with steel ones during 19th century refurbishments, something which happened a lot at the time. “I guarantee that if it had steel beams in, which has happened in some churches as part of Victorian refurbishment, it could have pushed out the walls.” | If there was any consolation to be taken from Notre Dame, he said, it was that it did not appear to have had any timber beams replaced with steel ones during 19th century refurbishments, something which happened a lot at the time. “I guarantee that if it had steel beams in, which has happened in some churches as part of Victorian refurbishment, it could have pushed out the walls.” |
| Marc Bettinelli of Le Monde has been posting some images from Notre Dame since the outbreak of the fire. Here’s footage of the musician Gautier Capuçon, who came to play in tribute to the firefighters. | Marc Bettinelli of Le Monde has been posting some images from Notre Dame since the outbreak of the fire. Here’s footage of the musician Gautier Capuçon, who came to play in tribute to the firefighters. |
| #NotreDame Le musicien Gautier Capuçon est venu jouer auprès de la cathédrale « en hommage aux @PompiersFR et pour transmettre un message d’espoir » pic.twitter.com/6dWFJuCFvV | #NotreDame Le musicien Gautier Capuçon est venu jouer auprès de la cathédrale « en hommage aux @PompiersFR et pour transmettre un message d’espoir » pic.twitter.com/6dWFJuCFvV |
| Pledges from French corporations and wealthy families to help rebuild Notre Dame have topped €600m, according to a report from the AFP news agency. | Pledges from French corporations and wealthy families to help rebuild Notre Dame have topped €600m, according to a report from the AFP news agency. |
| As some point out though, these are pledges. | As some point out though, these are pledges. |
| #BREAKING Pledges from France's corporations and richest families to help rebuild the fire-ravaged #NotreDame cathedral in Paris have topped 600 million euros ($680 million) | #BREAKING Pledges from France's corporations and richest families to help rebuild the fire-ravaged #NotreDame cathedral in Paris have topped 600 million euros ($680 million) |
| The president of the European council, Donald Tusk, says the message of encouragement to France after the fire should be that “it’s not the end of the world” and that the damage will be repaired. | The president of the European council, Donald Tusk, says the message of encouragement to France after the fire should be that “it’s not the end of the world” and that the damage will be repaired. |
| Tusk told Polish reporters in Strasbourg after a European parliament debate on Brexit that it was the duty of all Europeans and all Polish people to give France courage after this “dramatic” event. | Tusk told Polish reporters in Strasbourg after a European parliament debate on Brexit that it was the duty of all Europeans and all Polish people to give France courage after this “dramatic” event. |
| Recalling his native Poland’s efforts to rebuild its cities after the second world war, Tusk said his compatriots “have the right and the duty to say: ‘You will manage, this is not the end of the world’.” | Recalling his native Poland’s efforts to rebuild its cities after the second world war, Tusk said his compatriots “have the right and the duty to say: ‘You will manage, this is not the end of the world’.” |
| Warsaw was particularly badly damaged by Hitler’s troops in the war. Polish people rebuilt the city from the rubble of its own destruction – drawing on the cityscapes, or vedute, of the Venetian painter Bernardo Bellotto (1722-1780). | Warsaw was particularly badly damaged by Hitler’s troops in the war. Polish people rebuilt the city from the rubble of its own destruction – drawing on the cityscapes, or vedute, of the Venetian painter Bernardo Bellotto (1722-1780). |
| Here’s a piece from the Guardian in 2016 about that fascinating story: | Here’s a piece from the Guardian in 2016 about that fascinating story: |
| Story of cities #28: how postwar Warsaw was rebuilt using 18th century paintings | Story of cities #28: how postwar Warsaw was rebuilt using 18th century paintings |
| A leader of Germany’s far-right AfD party has tried to link the fire to what she described as “rising intolerance” against Christians in Europe, even though French investigators have insisted that they believe the inferno was an accident. | A leader of Germany’s far-right AfD party has tried to link the fire to what she described as “rising intolerance” against Christians in Europe, even though French investigators have insisted that they believe the inferno was an accident. |
| The AFP press agency reports that Alice Weidel, the parliamentary group leader of Alternative für Deutschland, the country’s largest opposition party, implied a connection between Monday’s blaze and previous anti-Christian “attacks” in France. | The AFP press agency reports that Alice Weidel, the parliamentary group leader of Alternative für Deutschland, the country’s largest opposition party, implied a connection between Monday’s blaze and previous anti-Christian “attacks” in France. |
| “During Holy Week Notre Dame burns. March: second largest church, Saint-Sulpice, burns. February: 47 attacks in France,” Weidel wrote. | “During Holy Week Notre Dame burns. March: second largest church, Saint-Sulpice, burns. February: 47 attacks in France,” Weidel wrote. |
| “The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe speaks of a significant increase,” she added, including a link to a March article in a German Catholic magazine headlined: “Catholic churches desecrated across France”. | “The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe speaks of a significant increase,” she added, including a link to a March article in a German Catholic magazine headlined: “Catholic churches desecrated across France”. |
| Photos of some of the artefacts that were saved from the fire have been filed. | Photos of some of the artefacts that were saved from the fire have been filed. |
| Paris has remained in shock today, reports Angelique Chrisafis, the Guardian’s Paris correspondent, who has been speaking to residents of the city all day. | Paris has remained in shock today, reports Angelique Chrisafis, the Guardian’s Paris correspondent, who has been speaking to residents of the city all day. |
| “I came back this morning to check it wasn’t just a nightmare I’d wake up from,” said Paul Piron, a 23-year-old literature student. He had stood until midnight singing liturigies and “ave marias” as he watched the cathedral burn. | “I came back this morning to check it wasn’t just a nightmare I’d wake up from,” said Paul Piron, a 23-year-old literature student. He had stood until midnight singing liturigies and “ave marias” as he watched the cathedral burn. |
| “We were terrified it would collapse completely,” he said. He had gone to vespers there every Sunday for three years. “It’s not just stone, it’s a place of life, a parish.” | “We were terrified it would collapse completely,” he said. He had gone to vespers there every Sunday for three years. “It’s not just stone, it’s a place of life, a parish.” |
| It was devastating to think it could be years before people could go back in. “I think it will be another 10 years before I can go inside again,” he said. | It was devastating to think it could be years before people could go back in. “I think it will be another 10 years before I can go inside again,” he said. |
| There has been more reaction from world leaders, including the Pope, who said on Twitter that people were waiting “for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction”. | There has been more reaction from world leaders, including the Pope, who said on Twitter that people were waiting “for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction”. |
| Today we unite in prayer with the people of France, as we wait for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction. Holy Mary, Our Lady, pray for us. #NotreDame | Today we unite in prayer with the people of France, as we wait for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction. Holy Mary, Our Lady, pray for us. #NotreDame |
| Japan’s government said it would consider sending support. “Its damage is a loss to the world and our hearts ache,” said Yoshihide Suga, the chief cabinet secretary. | Japan’s government said it would consider sending support. “Its damage is a loss to the world and our hearts ache,” said Yoshihide Suga, the chief cabinet secretary. |
| The South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, called for the world to come together to rebuild the Paris landmark. “Our love for humanity will be illustrated in a more mature way in the process of reconstruction,” he said. | The South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, called for the world to come together to rebuild the Paris landmark. “Our love for humanity will be illustrated in a more mature way in the process of reconstruction,” he said. |
| The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said in a message published on the Kremlin’s website that the tragedy “struck a chord in the hearts of Russians”. He called Notre Dame a “priceless treasure of Christian and world culture” and said Russia was ready to send the “best specialists” to help rebuild it. | The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said in a message published on the Kremlin’s website that the tragedy “struck a chord in the hearts of Russians”. He called Notre Dame a “priceless treasure of Christian and world culture” and said Russia was ready to send the “best specialists” to help rebuild it. |
| The Austrian president, Alexander Van der Bellen, raised the French flag over his office in Vienna in a sign of solidarity with France, tweeting that Notre Dame was “an important symbol of our common European culture”. | The Austrian president, Alexander Van der Bellen, raised the French flag over his office in Vienna in a sign of solidarity with France, tweeting that Notre Dame was “an important symbol of our common European culture”. |
| (2/3) En signe de solidarité de l'Autriche avec les Français, nous hissons aujourd'hui le drapeau français à la Présidence de la République d’Autriche. La sympathie de l'Europe et du monde entier montre la grande importance de notre héritage culturel et spirituel commun. pic.twitter.com/yqRdwuXZig | (2/3) En signe de solidarité de l'Autriche avec les Français, nous hissons aujourd'hui le drapeau français à la Présidence de la République d’Autriche. La sympathie de l'Europe et du monde entier montre la grande importance de notre héritage culturel et spirituel commun. pic.twitter.com/yqRdwuXZig |