Approximately 125 firefighters are currently fighting a blaze at Somerset House, a historic arts venue in central London. The cause of the fire is not yet known, but videos show flames on the building’s roof with smoke rising over the River Thames. Somerset House has confirmed that the site is closed and all staff and visitors are safe. The London Ambulance Service has advised people to avoid the area due to the high volume of smoke, and local businesses have been asked to keep windows and doors shut.
The London Fire Brigade has deployed 20 fire engines to the scene, with two 105-foot ladders being used to tackle the flames located in part of the building’s roof. The venue was set to host a day of breakdancing on Saturday, but all events have been canceled in light of the fire.
Somerset House, which was once the official residence of the Queen of England in the 17th century, has since been transformed into an arts venue. The Courtauld Institute of Art has been based there since 1989, housing the Courtauld Gallery with a collection of paintings by renowned artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Édouard Manet, and Paul Cézanne.
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