Denmark’s historic old stock exchange building in the centre of Copenhagen has been engulfed by fire.
The 17th Century Børsen is one of the city’s oldest buildings and onlookers gasped as its iconic spire collapsed in the flames.
Everyone inside the building was able to leave and people rushed to rescue some of its historic paintings.
Culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said 400 years of Danish cultural heritage had gone up in flames.
The building, dating back to 1625, is a stone’s throw from Denmark’s parliament, the Folketing, housed in the old royal palace of Christiansborg castle. Danish media said the nearby square was being evacuated.
Better fire safety obviously.
Not just better fire safety, but an appropriate approach to fire safety that accounts for the fact that these buildings are beyond antiques with considerations very different than modern buildings.