start of fires spaced, no trace of break-in and no suspects, the investigation into the cause of the fire which partly destroyed the building is still obscure.
volunteer Fire, electrical accident ? Three days after the fire in the cathedral of Nantes, the investigation continues to be marked on Tuesday by as much uncertainty about the origin of the disaster. A volunteer of the diocese of 39-year-old had been placed in police custody Saturday. The investigators wanted to hear about the conditions of the closure of the cathedral on the Friday evening, because on Saturday, after the fire, no trace of the burglar had been found on the access to the building. But the man was released Sunday night, "without any further", said Sunday the prosecutor of the Republic of Nantes Pierre Sennès.
the investigations of the judicial police is continuing, involving fire experts from the forensic laboratory and technical, to attempt to determine the origin of the loss, in the context of the investigation opened for "arson".
Three points of fire separate
The investigation revealed the existence of three points of fire separate in the cathedral of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul. "Between the great organ, which is on the façade at the first floor and the other lights, you have almost the entire distance of the cathedral. They are still at a distance consistent to each other", had a statement Saturday, the prosecutor.
summer Offer : Take advantage of the special offer 2 months for 1€ I subscribeJean-Yves Magnier, sacristan of the cathedral, who was interviewed on Monday, ahead of the track of an electrical short circuit. "It was one of my first feelings. Of the stuff that ignites (...) I have electrical problems very recurrent, not every week but very recurrent. So, there, in my opinion, there are things to dig", has identified this responsible for the maintenance of the premises.
The alert was given on Saturday to 7: 45 a.m. by passers-by who saw flames coming out of the cathedral. It took about two hours for firefighters to contain the fire which has destroyed a painting of Hippolyte Flandrin of the Nineteenth century and the great organ. This organ was installed on a platform erected in 1620, which is accessed by a staircase of 66 steps.
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If the investigation were able to allow the investigators access to the locations of the two outbreaks of fire located at the level of the altar and the nave, they had not yet been able to access the platform, weakened by the fire, and thus the great organ.
Objective of a fast reconstruction
outside of the grand organ, "very few, or no items will be sauvables", according to Philippe Charron, head of the heritage to the DRAC (regional Direction of cultural affairs), "most of the works have been saved" and are put "in particular in the castle of Nantes". "We are going to count in weeks the security of the site, (...) in the months of the investigation, which will be done stone by stone" and, for the duration of the reconstruction work preceded by a study phase, "there, the unit will instead be the year," said Philippe Charron.
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"We aim to reopen the course as quickly as possible," stressed the head of the DRAC. A scaffolding and a construction truck were visible Monday morning, and we could see also municipal officers fussing around the building. The State "will take part" in the reconstruction, has promised Saturday, the Prime minister, Jean Castex. For the Economy minister Bruno Le Maire said, "it is an obligation for the State because it is its property, ( ... ), therefore, we will present." Several calls for donations have been launched, one of which, worn by the Heritage Foundation, met today, Tuesday, 35 000 euros.
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Fire in the cathedral of Nantes
Three questions on the reconstruction of the cathedral of Nantes Cathedral Nantes : "The State will support the restoration of" Fire in the cathedral of Nantes : the volunteer of the diocese releasedThe fire in the cathedral of Nantes, which occurred fifteen months after that of Notre-Dame de Paris, arouses strong emotion in Nantes, some of which have preserved the memory of a previous fire in the building, on 28 January 1972. The building of this cathedral, a flamboyant gothic style, has lasted several centuries (from 1434 to 1891).
Date Of Update: 21 July 2020, 09:58
