Houses of Parliament at Risk of ‘Catastrophic’ Fire, Officials Warn of Inferno

London: The Houses of Parliament are in serious trouble. Officials say they could face a catastrophic fire. It’s alarming to think about, especially with the history of fires there.

In the last decade, there have been 45 fire incidents. That’s a lot! Lord Hain, a Labour peer, is really worried. He’s calling for urgent restorations. He even mentioned a “Notre-Dame-style inferno” could happen if things don’t change.

The Palace of Westminster, where the House of Commons and House of Lords meet, is falling apart. Parts of it are a disaster waiting to happen. The basement is even called the “Cathedral of Horror.” It’s a mess down there!

The restoration plans have been stuck for years. Costs keep rising, and there are so many dangers. Think about fire risks, asbestos, and flooding. The tangled mess of pipes and cables is a nightmare.

Lord Hain is frustrated. He says Parliament decided to move out for repairs years ago, but nothing has happened. Delays could lead to serious consequences.

Remember the Notre-Dame fire in Paris? That was a wake-up call. Back in 2018, they agreed to move out temporarily for repairs, but the plan got shelved. Now, they’re considering three options for restoration.

One option is to move everyone out, another is to just move the Lords, and the last one is to stay put and do rolling repairs. But that could take forever!

While they debate, the risks keep growing. Without action, we might see catastrophic damage. A spokesperson for Parliament said they have some safety measures in place, like upgraded fire doors. But is that enough? Time will tell.