Somerset House Fire Contained: No Artwork Damaged

Firefighters have contained a blaze at central London's Somerset House. The fire broke out in the west wing, but no artworks were damaged, and no injuries were reported. The Courtauld Gallery will reopen tomorrow.

A large fire at Somerset House in central London has been contained after around 125 firefighters tackled the blaze.

The fire broke out in the west wing of the historic arts venue just before midday on Saturday.

Fortunately, no artworks were in the affected area, and there are no reported injuries.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) managed to control the fire, but crews will remain at the scene overnight to extinguish remaining pockets.

The venue, except for the Courtauld Gallery, will remain closed until further notice.

The Courtauld Gallery, which houses masterpieces from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, including works by Vincent Van Gogh, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, and Paul Cezanne, will reopen to the public tomorrow.

Due to the heavy smoke, nearby businesses have been advised to keep windows and doors shut.