The facade of the historic stock exchange in Copenhagen has collapsed

Despite the stability, half the walls of the Copenhagen Stock Exchange collapsed.

From one second to the next, the walls of the burning half of the historic stock exchange collapsed Copenhagen He collapsed. Shortly before, the fire brigade was hoping to save the last remains of the damaged side of the famous building in the Danish capital. But a fire department spokesman confirmed on Thursday that the facade had collapsed.

These were the last remnants to survive the fire that broke out at the site on Tuesday. Shortly before, emergency services attempted to stabilize the walls. “The building probably needs more support,” Tim Ole Simonsen, director of fire department operations, said at a news conference earlier Thursday afternoon. Simonsen continued that the police had not yet been able to begin their investigations inside the building for safety reasons, and the risk of collapse was too great. This is what happened moments later.

More places could collapse

Part of the affected side has collapsed, and other areas could follow. “There is still a risk that the remaining facades of Børsen will collapse,” Simonsen said after the facade fell. The side that emergency services were able to protect from the spreading fire on Tuesday was also at risk. The section will continue to be secured, according to the fire department. According to them, no one is known to have been injured after the collapse.

Important architectural assets

The old stock exchange, now home to the Danish Chamber of Commerce, houses a large collection of works of art, among other things. Several streets and the area surrounding the historic stock exchange remained largely closed.

The Old Stock Exchange is an important architectural asset of the Scandinavian city. After the fire, many supporters spoke in favor of rebuilding the building. “The building is simply vital to Copenhagen and the entire cultural history of Denmark,” the seven mayors of Copenhagen wrote in a joint statement shortly after the fire, and they will do everything they can to support the reconstruction. The building's owner, the Danish Chamber of Commerce, also expressed confidence shortly after the fire: “We have decided with our board that we will definitely rebuild Børsen,” said Brian Mikkelsen, managing director of the Danish Chamber of Commerce.

The building, which was built 400 years ago, is located at the eastern end of Slotsholmen Island on the Holmens Channel opposite the Danish National Bank and is considered a tourist attraction. The fire was particularly intense on Tuesday in the part of the building that had been scaffolded for restoration work and was closest to Parliament. A short time later, the impressive tower of the old stock exchange collapsed.