COPENHAGEN: A huge fire on Tuesday tore through Copenhagen's 17th-century former stock exchange, toppling the historic building's landmark spire in front of horrified and emotional witnesses. Amid flames and black smoke, the 54-metre spire crashed into the street below the the Borsen building, which had been undergoing renovation.
"This is our Notre-Dame! This is a national treasure," local resident, 45-year-old Elisabeth Moltke, said that as she watched the blaze. Other witnesses watched in tears as more than 100 firefighters battled to save the building.
"A lot of old Danish paintings, originals are in there. I've been in there several times and it's a magnificent building so it makes me feel very emotional," added Moltke.
The fire started at around 7:30 am under the red-brick building's copper roof, emergency services told reporters.
As flames and huge plumes of black smoke billowed from the rooftop, fire trucks surrounded the building, covered in scaffolding and canvas, which today houses the Danish Chamber of Commerce.
Danish rescue services said that they could not give "any guarantees" that the facade of the building could be saved.
The Borsen building, close to the Christiansborg parliament and seat of government, was commissioned by King Christian IV and built between 1619 and 1640. It is one of Copenhagen's oldest and best known landmarks. Housing a vast art collection, it was being renovated to celebrate its 400th anniversary.
Forces from the Danish military were also called to the scene, in particular to try to evacuate artworks.
"We are currently working hard to save our historical art from Borsen," the Chamber of Commerce said in a post to X.
The most valuable paintings in the building were quickly moved to the nearby National Museum of Denmark.
Speaking outside the burning building, Copenhagen mayor Sophie Haestorp Andersen said the city and the Danish Chamber of Commerce had already decided to try and restore the building, however the details, including funding, would have to be decided.
"This is part of the story of the building of our city, a story that we can't just leave in a sea of flames, and therefore we will do everything we can to rebuild this," she told reporters.
Police said they had blocked off parts of the city centre as part of the fire-fighting efforts. — AFP
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