A fire that started on Tuesday in the copper roof of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange, or Boersen, has now spread extensively, with parts of the roof collapsing, according to firefighters’ spokesman Jakob Vedsted Andersen.
The fire was first reported at 7.30 am.
“The extinguishing work is very difficult,” said Mr. Vedsted Andersen, noting that firefighters cannot enter certain parts of the building due to safety concerns.
The Old Stock Exchange, once Denmark’s financial hub, is located next to Christiansborg Palace, where the parliament is situated, and is a popular tourist attraction.
The building’s distinctive spire, shaped like the tails of four dragons entwined together, stood at a height of 56 meters (184 feet).
Massive plumes of smoke billowed over downtown Copenhagen as people rushed inside the building to save paintings. Danish media reported that an annex of the parliament was being evacuated.
Police and firefighters were on the scene, with ambulances present, although there were no reports of casualties.
An army unit was deployed to cordon off the area, and the Danish Emergency Management Agency was assisting.
Danish culture minister Jakon Engel-Schmidt remarked on the public’s efforts to assist emergency services in saving art treasures and iconic images from the burning building, calling it “touching.”
The building, dating back to 1615, was undergoing renovation, according to the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which moved into the building after Copenhagen’s stock exchange relocated in 1974.
Brian Mikkelsen, head of the chamber, was among those helping to remove paintings from the building, describing the fire as a “national disaster.”
King Frederik expressed sadness on Instagram, noting the destruction of “an important part of our architectural heritage.”
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also expressed sorrow, describing the fire as damaging “irreplaceable cultural heritage” and “a piece of Danish history.”
The cause of the fire is not yet known.