A fire erupted on Saturday at Somerset House, a prominent arts venue located on the River Thames in central London. Thick smoke emerged from the building, and flames were visible on the roof while firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze from tall ladders. The London Fire Brigade dispatched fifteen engines and approximately 100 firefighters to combat the fire, although the cause was yet to be determined.
Somerset House announced that all staff and visitors were safe, and the venue was subsequently closed. The building was set to host a breakdancing event that had to be canceled due to the fire. The neoclassical structure, standing for nearly 250 years, is home to the Courtauld Gallery, which displays artworks by renowned artists such as Van Gogh, Manet, and Cezanne.
