Copenhagen stock exchange fire sees iconic spire collapse in huge inferno
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The top of a tall tower on one of the oldest structures in Copenhagen crumbled to the ground while it was on fire. The Danish government has referred to the event as a "Notre Dame moment".
On Tuesday, the rooftop of Boersen, which served as the financial hub of the nation back in the 17th century, was ablaze and eventually crumbled.
The edifice is located beside the Christiansborg Palace where the legislature convenes. It is a well-liked place for sightseers as it flaunts its unique tower that takes the form of four dragons' tails that are intertwined with each other, standing at a remarkable height of 56 meters (184 feet).
The Danish ministers drew parallels between the event and the fire that occurred in the Parisian cathedral in 2019.
Enormous clouds of smoke billowed above the center of Copenhagen, causing individuals to hurry inside the edifice to salvage art pieces. Danish news outlets informed the public that an extension of parliament was in the process of being cleared.
Outside the building, which was covered in scaffolding, police and firefighters were on duty. Ambulances were also present, but there were no indications of any injuries or fatalities.
According to Jakon Engel-Schmidt, the Danish culture minister, it was heartwarming to witness how pedestrians assisted the emergency services in rescuing valuable art pieces and famous images from the blazing establishment.
A clip displayed the fiery top of the building splitting into two as it fell, causing a significant section to smash onto the pavement near a fire engine.
The place where the Danish Chamber of Commerce is located was constructed in the year 1615. Brian Mikkelsen, who is the head of the chamber, participated in the removal of paintings from the building.
At this moment, all the people at the Danish Chamber of Commerce are shedding tears. This place is not just their source of income, but also a significant part of their past. Mikkelsen expressed his incredulity as he spoke to the journalists.
I'm examining something very important to us - our cultural legacy. It goes back 400 years and has crafted the cultural past of Denmark and the way we live and interact nowadays.
The city was filled with the sound of blaring sirens accompanied by a cloud of dense grey smoke. The Royal Life Guards, a section of the army, had deployed approximately 90 conscripts to assist with the safeguarding and marking of valuables.
The structure was initially constructed to house booths where items like tea and seasonings were exchanged.
According to Ulla Kjaer, a senior researcher at the National Museum of Denmark, the reason why dragons were placed above Denmark is that it was hoped that a great amount of gold would be produced, and dragons are traditionally considered to be guardians of gold.
According to her, there were three crowns located at the pinnacle of the spire, which represented the powerful realms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
According to Kjaer, this spire is incredibly distinctive and unmatched anywhere else on the globe.
King Frederik took to Instagram to express his concern for the destruction of a significant portion of our architectural heritage due to ongoing fires. He emphasized that the preservation of our architectural heritage is critical, and that it is unfortunate that we are currently witnessing the destruction of such a vital part of it.
Copenhagen has been known as the 'city of towers' for many years, and one of the distinguishing symbols of the city is the dragon spire.
On a certain date, Troels Lund Poulsen, who is the Minister of Defence, expressed his sentiments regarding the Bourse through writing. He described the images of the incident as "horrible". This occurrence made him feel sad because the building is considered as an icon and has a significant meaning to everyone. The Minister compared the event to a moment that is similar to when Notre-Dame was damaged.
The reason for the fire, which was reported at 7:30 am, was not yet ascertained.
According to the spokesperson of the firefighters, Jakob Vedsted Andersen, the task of extinguishing the fire is very challenging. He also mentioned that some areas of the building are inaccessible to firefighters due to safety concerns.
