In Copenhagen, the emergency response is facing a critical phase in the effort to secure the Børsen building after a partial fire. Director of Emergency Preparedness Jakob Vedsted Andersen from the Capital Region Emergency Management warned at a press conference Friday morning about the risk of further collapse of the building’s structure. “Our primary goal is to ensure that no one gets hurt, and to preserve the parts of Børsen that are still standing,” said Andersen. He explained that further debris has been observed after the emergency response overnight began to remove the scaffolding surrounding the damaged building. The scaffolding, which is attached to the part of Børsen that was not affected by the fire, poses a particular risk. “In the process of removing the scaffolding, unpredictable situations can arise that we must handle carefully,” added the emergency response director.
Friday afternoon, the emergency response initiated what is described as a “critical phase” in the work of cutting down the scaffolding. This step is necessary to prevent further damage to the building. “We must proceed very slowly, because the collapsed scaffolding tower, which previously supported the spire, is very heavy and has built-in tensions,” explained Andersen. The emergency response will continue to work methodically and carefully to ensure that the remaining parts of Børsen can be preserved safely. Jakob Vedsted Andersen emphasized the importance of this effort and the continued focus on safety throughout the process.