Historical paintings were carried out of the burning Copenhagen stock exchange last night in a bid to protect the priceless artworks after the building went up in flames. The 17th-century building was ravaged by flames as horrified onlookers watched the iconic ft spire collapse and grey plumes of smoke fill the sky. But also housed within the stock exchange building - one of Copenhagen's oldest and a major tourist attraction - was a stash of cultural heritage that firefighters and passers-by were desperate to rescue.
People were seen rescuing historical paintings from Denmark's stock exchange building after it went up in flames on Tuesday morning. Smoke billows and flames rise around the scaffolding of the old stock exchange in Denmark. Following the rescue mission, the works have been transferred to the parliament building and the Danish National Archives for safekeeping. Earlier today, Brian Mikkelsen, chief of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which is headquartered in the Old Stock Exchange and owns the building, was seen with his staff scrolling through a binder of photos of paintings to be saved.
The fire began Tuesday morning in the copper roof of the Old Stock Exchange, or Boersen, spread to much of the building and the roof, parts of which also collapsed, and destroyed the building's interior.
He said that there was no risk of the blaze spreading to other buildings. Firefighters said they expect to be at the scene for the next 24 hours. The fire has grown, more and more serious, it seems to be spreading to a larger part of the building,' a reporter for local outlet Politiken said from the scene.
Firefighters expect to be on the scene for 24 hours to stop the ferocious blaze. The iconic spire is seen surrounded by collapsing scaffolding early on Tuesday morning.
