16 April 2024 , 07:58
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Copenhagen's historic old stock exchange building is currently ablaze as emergency services rush to dampen flames and art-lovers desperately try and salvage the priceless paintings inside.
Police at the heart of Denmark's capital received reports of smoke coming from the copper roof of the historic Børsen building, which will turn 400-years-old in autumn, at around 8am local time on Tuesday morning. Dramatic pictures and footage continue to circulate across social media as flames leap from its roof and plumes of smoke billow into the sky.
Copenhagen Police said on Twitter: "Due to brand development in Børsen, we are currently extensively present in inner Copenhagen. Traffic towards the city on Knippelsbro is blocked. We expect the area to be cordoned off for a longer period of time. We encourage road users to find alternative routes."
READ MORE: Copenhagen Stock Exchange fire: Spire collapses on historic Børsen building
(Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima)Art enthusiasts entered the burning building in an attempt to salvage some of the prized pieces housed inside its walls, according to Politiken. "Seemingly ordinary people rush in to save paintings," said an editor of local outlet TV2 on X.
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Danish culture minister Jakon Engel-Schmidt mourned as 400 years of Danish cultural heritage went up in flames in the building situated next to the Christiansborg Palace where the parliament sits. However, he noted it was "touching" to see passers-by help emergency services "to save art treasures and iconic images from the burning building," he told DR.
He added: "What is left when it has been put out is too early to say now," Engel-Schmidt told Danish broadcaster DR."
Tilsyneladende almindelige mennesker haster ind for at redde malerier i #børsen pic.twitter.com/6mXhgbI1QL
— Mads Bisgaard (@MadsBis)
The Danish Chamber of Commerce has its headquarters in the building, with its head Brian Mikkelsen reportedly among those helping to carry paintings out of the building, telling reporters the events are "a national disaster". Another man jumped off his bicycle on his way to work to help in the effort.
The stock exchange houses a large number of portraits and paintings by revered artists including Lorenz Frølich, PS Krøyer and CF Høyer. One of the most iconic pieces hanging in Børsen’s great hall is a giant four-metre wide painting, ‘From Copenhagen Stock Exchange,’ painted by Peder Severin Krøyer in 1895.
The priceless painting appears undamaged, judging from a recent post on X (above) depicting people carrying it to safety. Among other iconic paintings hanging in Børsen's impressive hall are four charcoal drawings produced in 1857 by the artist Lorenz Frølich.
Fires engulfed the spire of the stock exchange (Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima)The area was cordoned off as up to 90 members of an army unit were also deployed to "secure valuables," Denmark's armed forces said.
The 17th-century old stock exchange is one of Denmark's oldest buildings and was undergoing major renovations before the fires broke out as it was shrouded in scaffolding and plastic. Fires rapidly spread to its 56-metre tall spire, which featured four dragons whose tails were twisted into a spear and three crowns, symbolising close ties with its Norwegian and Swedish neighbours.
"The Stock Exchange itself is wrapped in scaffolding, but the tower is sticking up and there is really a lot of fire. It's like a torch," Politiken journalist Morten Skærbæk said. "The scaffolding apparently makes it impossible for the fire brigade to get close to the tower. There is still a firefighter spraying on it, but it seems useless."
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Despite the fire damage and reports of ambulances at the scene, there are currently no reports of injuries. The cause of the fire is not immediately known.