Priceless artworks housed in London’s Somerset House, including paintings by Van Gogh and Monet, were unaffected by a fire that erupted at the historic building on Saturday, the gallery said.
About 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines worked to tamp out the flames that ripped through the roof of the western wing, bringing the blaze at the more than 450-year-old site under control before 7pm.
“The fire at #SomersetHouse is now under control and investigations into the cause will begin,” the London Fire Brigade wrote on X.
Photo: AFP
The neoclassical cultural complex stretching along the Thames River was meant to be hosting a breakdancing competition when a column of smoke began wafting above the center, prompting dozens of calls to the fire department.
“The fire was located in part of the building’s roof space,” London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Keeley Foster told reporters from outside the landmark, according to a statement.
“The age and design of the building proved a challenge for crews as they initially responded,” Foster said.
There were no reports of injuries as staff and visitors had left the building by the time fire crews arrived, the brigade added.
Home to Queen Elizabeth I before she was crowned in 1558 and to Anne of Denmark, Somerset House said in a notice on its Web site that it “will remain closed until further notice.”
Footage taken from central London showed thick plumes of smoke rising above the building, which stretches for about 180m along the banks of the River Thames.
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