A fire engulfed Copenhagen’s centuries-old former stock exchange complex on Tuesday, one of the most iconic structures in Denmark’s capital, causing its spire to collapse onto the roof.
The building, known as Borsen, was under reconstruction and renovation before the blaze broke out.
Ambulances arrived in the area just as large billows of smoke unfurled over central Copenhagen, although there were no initial reports of injuries. The cause of the fire was initially unclear.
Television footage showed individuals attempting to salvage a variety of objects, including ancient artworks.
The Dutch Renaissance-style edifice houses a huge art collection, including the well-known 19th-century oil painting From Copenhagen Stock Exchange by P.S. Kroyer, which was carried to safety by a multitude of individuals.
Culture Minister Jakon Engel-Schmidt said it was “touching” to watch how bystanders assisted emergency personnel “save art treasures and iconic images from the burning building”.
Police said they were evacuating adjoining buildings on the street, including the Ministry of Finance. An annex of the Danish parliament–situated in the block behind the former stock market–has also been directed to evacuate, according to Danish media.
The building, completed in 1625, underwent further renovation aimed to remedy prior 19th-century work and to restore its facade to its former glory. Its remarkable spire, in the style of four intertwined dragon tails, stood 56 meters (184 feet) tall.