A fire broke out in Somerset House, a building on the Thames in London. British media reports that more than 120 firefighters were involved in extinguishing the fire. The building houses the Courtauld Gallery, which displays a vast collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including works by Van Gogh, Manet and Cezanne.
The incident was reported by British media, including the AP agency. More than 120 firefighters were involved in the firefighting operation. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Somerset House issued a statement in which it assured that staff and guests of the facility were safe, but the fire affected a small part of the building. “The London Fire Brigade arrived quickly and we are working closely with them to control the spread of the fire,” the facility reported.
The director of Somerset House Trust said the fire broke out in the west wing of the building and that “no works of art are stored in this part of the building”.
Somerset House was once home to numerous state institutions, but for over 50 years it has been a centre for art, culture and entertainment. The Courtauld Gallery, which houses hundreds of valuable canvases, is located in the north wing of the building.
Main image source: Reuters