Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 07:19 pm
A major fire swept through historic Somerset House in London Saturday, with around 100 firefighters responding. The fire started in the roof of the cultural landmark, sending thick plumes of smoke rising over central London.
Response of Fire Brigade
“Crews are fighting a fire which has spread to part of the roof of the building,” the brigade said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Dramatic Scenes Captured
Dramatic scenes of a fire with flames and smoke billowing from the top of the 18th-century building, which covers about 180 meters along the River Thames, were captured on social media videos.
Somerset House’s History
Somerset House, which was opened in 1796, briefly posted on its official X account that the site was closed due to the fire affecting a small part of the building. It was later deleted.
The iconic cultural hub has hosted summer concerts and a winter ice rink and has starred in films, including the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually and two James Bond movies. Other major films to have used it as a backdrop include The Duchess in 2008, with Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, and gothic horror Sleepy Hollow by Tim Burton in 1999.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, and no injuries have been reported so far. Assessments are still being done on the extent of the damage amid ongoing fire-fighting operations.
