Government agencies in Brazil have shut 12 churches at risk of collapsing in Salvador, after the ceiling of a historic church in the city fell and killed a tourist on February 5. Source: Crux.
Solutions for the crisis of conservation of the old churches, however, are yet to be determined.
The incident at the 17th century Church of St Francis killed 26-year-old tourist Giulia Righetto and wounded five others.
According to reports, the church had been showing signs of structural problems since 2013, with water leaks, elements of the ceiling falling and an uneven floor.
Police are conducting an inquiry to determine who was responsible for the tragedy.
The Franciscan friars in charge of the temple had asked for an inspection by the federal agency in charge just one day before the collapse. It’s not yet clear, however, why the church remained open for visitors if it was noticeably under risk.
The collapse shocked many in Brazil. The church is famous for the “exquisite detail in its paintings, imagery, carving and tiling, in addition to the imposing architecture with austere features”, writes sacred art expert Janaina Ayres.
Salvador was Brazil’s first capital, so it contains many churches and buildings of the colonial era. Most have been listed by the patrimony agencies as historic sites and cannot undergo any change. The lack of adequate maintenance has been putting most in danger.
“Our major concern is the wooden parts. Ceilings, roofs and altars were usually made of wood,” Fr Edilson Conceição said. Over time, termites eat everything, he added.
Since the accident, the city’s civil defence has intensified its monitoring operations, shutting down at least 12 historic churches.
That doesn’t mean, however, that reconstruction will begin anytime soon. It depends on the availability of funds, either coming from the government or the Church, something that is not realistic in Brazil.
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Collapse of historical church’s ceiling sparks fear of new accidents in Brazil (By Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux)
