Fire at the former Copenhagen Stock Exchange: the facade collapsed towards the interior of the building with a “huge roar”

L’incendie s’est déclaré pour une raison inconnue ce mardi 16 avril sous le toit du bâtiment. MAXPPP – Thomas Traasdahl

La façade principale de l’ancienne Bourse de Copenhague, ravagée ce mardi 16 avril 2024 par un incendie, s’est effondrée ce jeudi 18 avril après-midi, ont indiqué les services de secours danois.

The main facade of the old Copenhagen Stock Exchange, ravaged this Tuesday April 16, 2024 by a fire, collapsed this Thursday April 18 afternoon, indicated the Danish emergency services. The spectacular fire caused the collapse of its famous spire. The scene recalled that of the fire which ravaged Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris in 2019, almost five years ago to the day.

#børsen der er desværre sket en kollaps af facaden på Frederiksholms Kanal. Der er blå blink og udrykning, der er holdt mandtal og ingen personskade. Hele Børsen er evakueret. Opdateres…

— Hovedstadens Beredskab (@HBeredskab) April 18, 2024

The historic building, best known for its spiral-shaped spire with the coiled tails of four dragons, was being renovated when the fire broke out. The scaffolding surrounding the building made it difficult for emergency services to reach the flames.

🇩🇰 Une triste nouvelle, la flèche historique de la Bourse de #Copenhague s'effondre dans les flammes, rappelant le souvenir douloureux de Notre-Dame, il y a près de 5 ans.

En tant qu'Européens, montrons notre solidarité envers le Danemark dans ces moments difficiles.@francedk pic.twitter.com/EVH9GiLHNM

— Alexandre Holroyd (@alexIholroyd) April 16, 2024

No injuries

"Unfortunately, the facade along Frederiksholms Kanal collapsed", the services wrote on X, specifying that no injuries were reported and that the neighborhood had been evacuated.

The structure collapsed towards the interior of the building with a huge rumble, according to images from Danish media. Containers had been placed along this facade to limit the risk of collapse, which the emergency services feared.

The main facade of the old Copenhagen Stock Exchange has collapsed. MAXPPP – Thomas Traasdahl

Emergency services announced at the start of the afternoon that a crane operation was to begin at midday on Friday to evacuate, in particular, parts of the roof which had collapsed. The fire broke out for an unknown reason this Tuesday under the roof of the building around 7:30 a.m. local and half of the building was burned.

A must-see building in Copenhagen, the Old Stock Exchange, built in the 17th century. RITZAU SCANPIX – Ida Marie Odgaard

Several hundred works of art have been secured. MAXPPP – Ida Marie Odgaard

An essential building in Copenhagen, the Old Stock Exchange, built in the 17th century and which would celebrate its 400th anniversary this year, also houses a vast collection of works of art, including several Hundreds were brought to safety.