Professional mountain climbers were hired to install synthetic, waterproof tarps over the gutted, exposed exterior of Notre Dame Cathedral, as authorities raced to prevent further damage ahead of storms that are rolling in toward Paris.
The looming bad weather threatens to further damage the 850-year-old cathedral whose roof was destroyed by the April 15 blaze, leaving the church to the mercy of the elements.
"The climbers, since it will be climbers who will do that, and the scaffolders, are ready," Villeneuve told BFMTV on Tuesday. "The beams are there, the tarpaulin on its way .... The highest priority is to protect the cathedral from the rain to come." Parts of the cathedral, including its partially-destroyed vaulted ceiling, had already been soaked with water after firefighters desperately fought the blaze for over 12 hours that day.
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