World News

Fire breaks out at Copenhagen’s historic stock exchange, spire collapses

By
Reuters
Published April 16, 2024, 4:39 a.m. ET

A fire hit Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange on Tuesday, one of the Danish capital’s most iconic buildings, engulfing its spire which collapsed onto the roof.

There were no reports of injuries.

Live video from local media showed people carrying large paintings away from the building to save them from the flames.

Flames bursting from the historic Boersen stock exchange building in central Copenhagen, Denmark, one of the city's oldest buildings, during a fire on April 16, 2024.
Flames engulf the Copenhagen’s Stock Exchange building, in Copenhagen, on April 16, 2024. Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
Firefighters combating the fire at the historic Stock Exchange building in Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 16, 2024.
Firefighters combating the fire at the historic Stock Exchange building in Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 16, 2024. ZUMAPRESS.com
Smoke rise out of the Old Stock Exchange, Boersen, in Copenhagen, Denmark, is shown on April 16, 2024.
Smoke rise out of the Old Stock Exchange, Boersen, in Copenhagen, Denmark, is shown on April 16, 2024. AP
Emergency worker and people removing paintings and other objects from the historic Old Stock Exchange, Boersen, during a fire in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Emergency worker and people removing paintings and other objects from the historic Old Stock Exchange, Boersen, during a fire in Copenhagen, Denmark. via REUTERS
People riding bicycles in Copenhagen with smoke rising from the Old Stock Exchange building on fire in the background
People riding bicycles in Copenhagen with smoke rising from the Old Stock Exchange building on fire in the background. AP

The historic building, whose spire was shaped as the tails of four dragons intertwined, had been under renovation when the fire broke out.

The Dutch Renaissance style building no longer houses the Danish stock exchange, but serves as headquarters for the Danish Chamber of Commerce.

Firefighters trying to extinguish a large fire at the historic Boersen stock exchange building in central Copenhagen, Denmark, with the building's landmark spire collapsing amid the flames.
Firefighters trying to extinguish a large fire at the historic Boersen stock exchange building in central Copenhagen, Denmark, with the building’s landmark spire collapsing amid the flames. Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
Firefighters work at the main entrance of the historic Boersen stock exchange building which is on fire in central Copenhagen, Denmark on April 16, 2024.
Firefighters work at the main entrance of the historic Boersen stock exchange building which is on fire in central Copenhagen, Denmark on April 16, 2024. Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
People react to a fire in the historic Boersen building in central Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 16, 2024.
People react to a fire in the historic Boersen building in central Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 16, 2024. Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
A view of the Old Stock Exchange in Copenhagen, Denmark, is shown on Jan. 28, 2019.
A view of the Old Stock Exchange in Copenhagen, Denmark, is shown on Jan. 28, 2019. AP

“We are met by a terrible sight. The Bourse is on fire,” the Chamber of Commerce wrote on X.

Copenhagen police asked people to avoid driving in the inner part of the city.