Copenhagen’s historic stock exchange building goes up in flames and its iconic spire destroyed as fire breaks out during renovations

Denmark’s historic stock exchange went up in flames after a fire broke out during renovation work today.

Local media reported a ‘big bang’ before the iconic spire collapsed in the capital Copenhagen.

A large police and fire brigade remains on site around the Børsen building, where scaffolding is said to have collapsed during the inferno.

Surrounding streets are closed and commuters are being urged to avoid the city center as authorities desperately try to tackle the blaze.

The crowd gathered in disbelief to watch the building, which dates back to 1625, billowing smoke.

Jakob Engel-Schmidt, the Danish culture minister, said 400 years of cultural heritage went up in flames when artefacts were removed from the fire.

The iconic spire is surrounded by collapsing scaffolding early Tuesday morning

Smoke engulfs the fragile frame of the spire in Copenhagen, Tuesday, April 16

Local residents carry paintings and other objects as a fire burns the old Stock Exchange (Boersen) in Copenhagen, Denmark, April 16, 2024

People gather in disbelief as the historic building goes up in flames on April 16

Smoke could be seen rising from the inferno from several blocks away

Video footage from the scene showed firefighters struggling to save historic paintings from the building.

‘It’s terrible. It was one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. I pass here every day. It’s Notre Dame again,” a bystander told the state broadcaster DR.

Brian Mikkelsen, director of Dansk Erhverv, the Danish Chamber of Commerce, assisted in efforts to rescue artifacts from the fire.

Peter Hummelgaard, Minister of Justice, applauded the efforts of emergency services in working to “save human lives and our historic cultural heritage” in a message on Twitter/X.

File photo of the historic Borsen Building in Copenhagen, Denmark