Copenhagen landmark razed
COPENHAGEN: A fire that ripped through Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange, one of the Danish capital’s most famous landmarks, was brought under control yesterday after the flames toppled its spire.
The fire broke out in the 17th century Dutch Renaissancestyle building on Tuesday morning (local time). It was quickly engulfed in flames as thick grey smoke rose above the city in scenes reminiscent of the 2019 blaze at Notre Dame Cathedral, in Paris.
There were no reports of casualties.
Video showed the flaming spire breaking in half as it tumbled down, a chunk crashing to the ground next to a fire truck.
Emergency services, employees from the Danish Chamber of Commerce, including its CEO Brian Mikkelsen, and even passersby, were seen carrying paintings away from the building in a race to save historic artefacts from the flames.
Soldiers of the Royal Life Guards helped to cordon off streets and secure valuables.
‘‘Everybody is crying at the Danish Chamber of Commerce right now,’’ Mikkelsen, told reporters, shaking his head in disbelief.
‘‘It’s our cultural heritage that I’m looking at. It’s 400 years that have shaped Danish cultural history and the society we live in today,’’ Mikkelsen said.
The fire had been brought under control but firefighting would continue throughout the night, Copenhagen fire department chief Jakob Vedsted Andersen told reporters.
The Danish Chamber of Commerce, which has owned the building since 1857, was working on restoring it to the style of Denmark’s King Christian IV, who had it constructed in the 17th century.
The building no longer houses the stock exchange but serves as the Chamber of Commerce headquarters. It was clad in scaffolding when the fire broke out, making it harder for the emergency services to get through to the flames, while the copper roof trapped the heat.
Several hundred pieces of art and artefacts including paintings, mirrors, chandeliers and clocks were saved by firefighters before flames destroyed most of the interior.