Blaze at Historic Somerset House Contained by Firefighters

A fire broke out at Somerset House, a central London arts venue, which was quickly contained by firefighters. The fire, which caused roof damage, did not reach the priceless artworks housed there. The building, with a rich history dating back to 1547, remains an iconic cultural site.

More than 125 firefighters were dispatched to combat a fire at Somerset House, a renowned arts venue in central London. This historic site houses invaluable works by Monet, Cezanne, and Van Gogh.

Flames and heavy smoke were visible around noon, but were brought under control within hours as firefighters used ladder trucks to douse the blaze. Video footage revealed significant roof damage but no impact on the art collection.

The London Fire Brigade reported that the cause of the fire is still unknown. Somerset House staff confirmed the safety of both people and artworks. The building, rich in history and reconstructed 250 years ago, narrowly escaped what could have been a disastrous loss for London's cultural heritage.

(With inputs from agencies.)