Work to dismantle Notre Dame scaffolding begins

Workers suspended from ropes were lowered into the charred remains of scaffolding that melted atop Notre Dame. The imposing tower of scaffolding was erected before the blaze for the restoration of Notre Dame's spire that was then toppled and destroyed by the flames.

Paris: Workers have started to dismantle the 200 tons of metal on top of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, after it went up in flames on April 15 in 2019.

On Monday workers suspendedfrom ropes were lowered into the charred remains of scaffoldingthat melted atop the iconic cathedral.

Two teams of five workers each will take turns descending on ropes into the heat-warped web of scaffolding, made up of 40,000 pieces, and cut with saws through metal tubes that fused together in the inferno.

Following this, the chunks will then be lifted out by a crane. The work will last through the summer months.

The imposing tower of scaffolding was erected before the blaze for the restoration of Notre Dame's spire that was then toppled and destroyed by the flames.

Teams have spent months consolidating the structure with metal girders so it can be dismantled without collapsing.

The cathedral is still closed and will be for several years during renovations.

AP