On Saturday around noon in London Somerset House A fire was spotted on the Thames. The fire brigade was called.
At least 20 vehicles and about 125 firefighters were sent to the scene, Reuters reported.
“Crews are battling flames on roof of the building” the London Fire Brigade said in a statement.
Additionally, tourists were urged not to move around the gallery. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
London. Somerset House is on fire
Somerset House released a statement saying: staff and guests of the facility are safeand 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 fire” – the facility reported.
It was reported that 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. It houses collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including works by Van Gogh, Manet and Cezanne.
Sources: Reuters, “The Guardian”