A fire tore through ‘s old stock exchange, one of capital’s most iconic buildings, on Tuesday.
Viewers gasped as the fire engulfed its iconic 54-meter spire, which collapsed onto the roof. There were no reports of injuries. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
According to city police, several streets and the area around the building have been cordoned off. Police asked people to avoid driving in the inner part of the city.
Live video from local media showed people carrying large paintings away from the building to save them from the flames. Heavy smoke and high flames could be seen coming from the building.
What do we know about the building?
The historic building, whose spire was shaped as the tails of four dragons intertwined, was completed in 1625 and is one of the oldest in Copenhagen.
The Dutch Renaissance-style building no longer houses the Danish Stock Exchange, but serves as the headquarters of the Danish Chamber of Commerce.
“We are witnessing a terrible spectacle,” the Danish Chamber of Commerce said.
The building had been under renovation when the fire broke out. It is covered in scaffolding.
The aim of the restoration is to correct the previous work carried out in the 19th century and to restore the facade of the building to its original appearance.
dh/rm (dpa, Reuters)
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