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The previous inventory trade constructing in downtown Copenhagen — one of many metropolis’s oldest constructions, identified for its elaborate spire of intertwined dragon tails — partly collapsed in a big hearth early Tuesday.
It was not instantly clear what prompted the hearth, however pictures and video from social media confirmed flames on the construction’s roof and darkish clouds of smoke lingering over the town.
“It’s completely dreadful to see Borsen in flames,” Jakob Engel-Schmidt, Denmark’s tradition minister, mentioned an interview early Tuesday, utilizing the Danish identify for the constructing. “The constructing represents over 400 years of Danish historical past. It’s one of many final constructions on the planet in Dutch Renaissance fashion, the place commerce has been performed all through all the interval.”
The police in Copenhagen mentioned on social media that that they had evacuated a number of surrounding buildings, and urged individuals to keep away from the realm.
The previous inventory trade constructing, a Seventeenth-century construction that was as soon as the monetary middle of Denmark, additionally housed a number of historic work and different artifacts. City officers rushed the valued items out of the constructing after the hearth broke out.
One of the bigger works carried to security was Peder Severin Kroyer’s “From Copenhagen Stock Exchange,” in accordance with an area information outlet. The work, which was painted in 1895 and depicts a number of key Danish monetary figures, is greater than 13 toes lengthy. It took six individuals to take away it to security.
Mr. Engel-Schmidt mentioned the previous inventory trade’s artworks “inform us one thing about ourselves as a nation and as a individuals.” He added that the constructing had been the backdrop of numerous historic occasions, and that it was ingrained within the Danish psyche.
“That’s why there are individuals standing within the streets, wanting extremely unhappy,” he mentioned. “It impacts me, too.”
Several different officers lamented the hearth, together with Jan Jorgensen, a member of Parliament for the Liberal Party, who known as for the previous inventory trade to be rebuilt. “Probably probably the most iconic constructing in Copenhagen,” he said on social media. “All forces should be united to have this previous, lovely home rebuilt in all its energy and splendor.”
The constructing was constructed on the course of King Christian IV, who had acknowledged the significance of commerce and commerce, in accordance with the Visit Copenhagen tourism web site. The unique construction contained not less than 40 market stalls and was surrounded by water on three sides to assist ships simply unload their cargo.
As hearth crews fought the flames on Tuesday, dozens of onlookers quietly stood on the road, watching in shock, together with Celeste Bolvinkil Andersen, who mentioned she had woken up when she heard her roommate shouting concerning the hearth.
“It feels a bit like turning into a firsthand witness to historical past,” she mentioned. “I can’t assist however sit right here deeply, deeply dissatisfied in myself, for not having gone inside and seen the Borsen from the within. And now it’s fully gone.”
Maya Tekeli contributed reporting.
