Copenhagen Fights Last Pockets of Fire that Destroyed 400-year-old Landmark

Emergency management work in the former Stock Exchange of Copenhagen, Boersen, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Emergency management work in the former Stock Exchange of Copenhagen, Boersen, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
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Copenhagen Fights Last Pockets of Fire that Destroyed 400-year-old Landmark

Emergency management work in the former Stock Exchange of Copenhagen, Boersen, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Emergency management work in the former Stock Exchange of Copenhagen, Boersen, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Danish firefighters were still at work extinguishing the last pockets of a fire that destroyed a 400-year-old Copenhagen landmark a day after the blaze began, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.

Morten Langager, manager of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which was headquartered in the Old Stock Exchange and owned the building, said the building, built in 1615 and known for its green copper roof and distinctive 56-meter spire in the shape of four intertwined dragon tails, should “rise again.”

No decision has yet been made about whether the city will reconstruct the building, which would cost millions, if not billions of kroner (dollars).

Many in Denmark compared Tuesday’s fire to the April 2019 blaze at Notre Dame that destroyed the 800-year-old cathedral’s spire. Its restoration is slated for completion this year.

The head of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, Brian Mikkelsen, told Danish media that most of the building's most valuable contents had been saved. The building contained priceless paintings and other works of art, AP reported.

When the fire engulfed the building on Tuesday, passers-by, Chamber of Commerce staff, police officers and members of an army unit that had been sent to help raced inside the building to save its treasures.

The extent of the damage, caused by flames and the tons of water poured to extinguish them, was still unknown, as was the cause of the fire, which is believed to have started on the building's roof during renovations on Tuesday morning.

Huge billows of smoke rose over downtown Copenhagen and could be seen from southern Sweden, which is separated from the Danish capital by a narrow waterway. Ambulances were at the scene but there were no reports of casualties.

Smoke damage closed ministries located in the street behind the Old Stock Exchange, which remained shut Wednesday as employees were told to work from home because of a strong smell of smoke in the buildings.

The buildings must be thoroughly cleaned and their ventilation systems must be checked and perhaps replaced before ministry staff can return, said Rasmus Brandt Lassen, head of the Danish Building and Property Agency.

“We have told them that they should expect to work at home for the rest of the week,” Brandt Lassen said.



AlUla Kicks Off Summer Fruits Season, Celebrates Abundant Harvest

AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares. - SPA
AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares. - SPA
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AlUla Kicks Off Summer Fruits Season, Celebrates Abundant Harvest

AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares. - SPA
AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares. - SPA

The Royal Commission for AlUla announced the launch of AlUla's harvest season, starting with the AlUla Summer Fruits Season. This seven-day event from July 22 to 28 at Al Manshiyah Farmers Market marks the beginning of several seasonal celebrations, including dates, citrus, peregrine, and honey seasons.

According to SPA, during the Summer Fruits Season, farmers and local families will showcase diverse fruits, supporting comprehensive agricultural and economic development. The commission aims to drive economic growth through community initiatives during this peak harvest period for AlUla's over 5,000 farms, which boast more than 50,000 trees.

AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares.

Celebrating centuries of agricultural history, AlUla's diverse and high-quality produce balances ancient traditions and sustainable agriculture. The Royal Commission for AlUla prioritizes agricultural development to boost economic opportunities, enhance competitiveness, create local jobs, and offer visitors a unique experience of the region's agricultural