Copenhagen stunned by devastating stock exchange fire, as police launch probe into blaze
On Wednesday, the authorities commenced a probe into the blaze that ravaged the prominent stock exchange edifice in Copenhagen. The inferno resulted in the destruction of its spire and inflicted harm on ancient art and structural design.
The fire was still raging on Wednesday afternoon, more than a day after it started, and officials and residents in Copenhagen have begun coming to terms with the fact that one of the city's most iconic structures has been destroyed.
The firefighters from the area were still attempting to extinguish the flames that ravaged the structure known as Børsen since the start of Tuesday. The blaze affected each level of the building and resulted in the collapse of the iconic dragon-tail spire that represented the city for many years.
Despite the walls of the structure remaining erect, the inside has been severely impaired and the roof has suffered a partial collapse. Firefighters maneuvered cranes to douse the edifice with water.
The police in Copenhagen have initiated an inquiry, calling it a complex course of action. Officer Brian Belling affirmed that they have already completed a significant number of investigative measures by interviewing people and securing surveillance.
"However, there are still many tasks that require our attention, particularly because we have not yet had a chance to assess Børsen directly," Belling stated.
On Tuesday, a bunch of artworks were successfully rescued from the 17th century structure that showcased the Dutch Renaissance style. This building had numerous artworks inside, and it was a significant piece of architecture from that era.
The sudden occurrence of the outbreak left locals surprised. It reminded them of the incident that occurred in Paris at Notre Dame Cathedral, exactly five years and a day prior.
Upon hearing the news, teacher Eva Simoni Lomholdt, aged 58, expressed her hopes that the iconic structure in Copenhagen, Denmark will be reconstructed. She acknowledged that the rebuilding process may not exactly replicate the previous version but believes that it still holds great significance to the country.
According to reports, the Danish Chamber of Commerce's CEO, Brian Mikkelsen, stated that a firefighter had given him the spire's top on Wednesday morning after it was retrieved from its collapse.
He expressed optimism as we have taken the decision to reconstruct the stock market, which is a crucial aspect of European history as an occupied continent for trading.
The former stock market, which can be reached within a few minutes' walk from Christiansborg Palace, has been around since 1625. King Christian IV had it built in the Dutch Renaissance style. Currently, it is being renovated and the exterior is covered in scaffolds and protective coverings.
Since then, it has stood at the core of Danish business operations. Although it no longer accommodates the Danish stock exchange, it is currently being utilized as the main base of operations for the Chamber of Commerce.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed deep concern that a historical building in Denmark was on fire. She referred to the building as a unique and valuable piece of Danish heritage, adding that it would be impossible to ever replace it.
The minister of culture in Denmark, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, mentioned that the cultural legacy of 400 years has been harmed.
In a recent post on X, which used to be known as Twitter, the writer expressed their admiration for the teamwork and collaboration between Børsen employees, emergency service workers, and random pedestrians, who worked together to save precious artworks and famous pictures from a destructive fire. The writer found the joint efforts inspiring and heartwarming.
Reporting was provided by Stephanie Halasz, Antonia Mortensen, and Lauren Said-Moorhouse for CNN.
