More than 125 firefighters worked to extinguish a blaze that broke out on Saturday at Somerset House, a large art gallery in central London that houses priceless works by Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne and Vincent Van Gogh.
Thick smoke and flames, visible from the roof around noon local time, were extinguished hours later as firefighters poured water on them using buckets on ladder trucks. Video footage shows the flames tore through the roof of the building next to the Thames.
Maja Smiejkowska / REUTERS
The cause of the fire is not yet known, the London Fire Brigade said. No injuries have been reported.
Somerset House said staff and members of the public were safe and no artwork was in the area of the fire. The venue was due to host a breakdancing event.
In a message posted on X, formerly Twitter, Somerset House wrote that the site was currently closed due to the fire and that “the Battle of London and other events today will not take place.”
“We apologize for the inconvenience,” the message said.
Maja Smiejkowska / REUTERS
“A fire was spotted around midday in a corner of the west wing. The site was immediately evacuated and the London Fire Brigade were called, who arrived very quickly,” said Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust. “The west wing is mainly offices and ancillary facilities, there is no artwork in that area.”
Maja Smiejkowska / REUTERS
The fire broke out on the opposite side of the large Courtauld Gallery complex, which features works including Vincent Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Peter Paul Rubens’ The Descent from the Cross.
The neoclassical building was rebuilt almost 250 years ago after the original Somerset House was demolished and left to fall into disrepair.
Maja Smiejkowska / REUTERS
The original palace was built in 1547 by Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, who was later executed in the Tower of London.
Queen Elizabeth I lived in the palace as a princess for five years before ascending the throne.
