Terrifying moment spire topples as 400-year-old building engulfed in flames

16 April 2024 , 08:47

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Terrifying moment spire topples as 400-year-old building engulfed in flames

Terrifying footage has captured the moment the iconic spire of Copenhagen's Old Stock Exchange fell to the ground in a fiery wreck this morning.

The roof of the building, which was once the country's financial hub, went up in flames at around 8am local time this morning (7am GMT), with the spire crashing on to the street below around 30 minutes later. In the footage, people can be heard gasping as a massive crash rings out when the massive spire breaks off the roof. Hearing the loud bangs, people are seen scrambling to get a better view. As it makes it way down, the spire narrowly misses a number of cranes gathered to assist in the emergency response.

Shocking images from presse-fotos.dk showed the major landmark engulfed in huge plumes of thick, acrid smoke billowing into the air as flames engulf its spire. Officials were also seen going back into the Old Stock Exchange to retrieve a number of expensive artworks to carry them away from the inferno. It's currently unknown if anyone was injured.

Other shocking images showed the major landmark engulfed in huge plumes of thick, acrid smoke (Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima)

Police received reports about smoke at the historic Børsen building at around 8am local time (7am GMT). A spokesperson said: "Due to a fire in Børsen, we have a strong presence in the centre of 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."

A later update said: "We are now in the process of evacuating the buildings from the Ministry of Finance and down towards the water. We continue to reroute the traffic around Slotsholmen [the street where Børsen is located]." Copenhagen's fire brigade said: "We are on our way to #slotsholmsgade for a report of heavy smoke from the roof..... Updating......."

Astonishing pics show firefighters save woman from 3rd floor of blazing building

Firefighters working at the entrance of the building (Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima)

Denmark's Minister for Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt took to Twitter to lament over the "terrible pictures" circulating of the fire. He said: "How touching it is to experience how the employees at Børsen, good people from the emergency services and passing Copenhageners collaborate[d] to save art treasures and iconic images from the burning building."

A local resident who was passing by the ruined building today told state broadcaster DR: "It's horrible. It was one of the city's most beautiful buildings. I pass by here every day It's Notre Dame all over again." Back in 2019, Notre Dame cathedral in Paris narrowly avoided complete destruction when the 850-year monument was almost obliterated by a searing inferno.

Ryan Fahey