Large fire topples spire at historic Copenhagen building

A large fire has broken out at Copenhagen's Old Stock Exchange, one of the Danish capital's most iconic buildings, engulfing its spire which collapsed onto the roof.

There were no reports of injuries.

Live video from local media showed people carrying large paintings away from the building to save them from the flames.

The historic building, whose spire was shaped as the tails of four dragons intertwined, had been under renovation when the fire broke out.

The Dutch Renaissance style building no longer houses the Danish stock exchange, but serves as headquarters for the Danish Chamber of Commerce.

"We are met by a terrible sight. The Bourse is on fire," the Chamber of Commerce wrote on X.

"This is our Notre Dame, it is our national treasure."

Copenhagen police asked people to avoid driving in the inner part of the city.

The building was erected in the 1620s as a commercial building by King Christian IV and is located next to the Danish parliament.

The images recalled the disaster at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, almost five years ago to the day when its spire was also destroyed by a fire.

"This is our Notre Dame, it is our national treasure," said Elisabeth Moltke, a 45-year-old local resident, who watched the blaze.

Others could not hold back tears as they watched the devastation.

According to the Danish Chamber of Commerce the fire started at around 5.30am Irish time.

"We are currently working on saving everything that can be saved," director Morten Langager said.

Police said they had blocked off parts of the city centre as part of the fire fighting efforts.

The red-brick and copper roof building, one of the oldest in the Danish capital, was undergoing renovation work when it caught fire, the cause of which was yet unknown.