Over a 100 firefighters battle massive fire at London’s Somerset House

Somerset House, a historic site on the banks of the River Thames, was once a royal palace and is now an arts, cultural, and entertainment centre.

Around 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze at Somerset House in central London. (X@michelleeb)

Over a 100 firefighters were deployed as a massive fire broke out at London’s iconic Somerset House on the Strand on Saturday. No injuries or casualties have been reported so far, according to BBC.

In a post on social media platform X, the London Fire Brigade said 25 fire engines and around 125 firefighters have been deployed at the site.

The fire brigade also said in a statement that as part of the operation, two of its 32-meter ladders have been dispatched to help tackle the blaze.

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It added that the cause of the fire is not yet known.

“Traffic in the surrounding area will be affected as crews respond,” it stated.

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On its official X account, the Somerset House wrote: “Owing to a fire in one small part of Somerset House, the site is currently closed. London Battle and other events today will not take place. We apologise for any inconvenience.”

Somerset House, a historic site on the banks of the River Thames, was once a royal palace and is now an arts, cultural, and entertainment centre. The building’s North Wing houses the Courtauld Gallery, which contains one of the world’s most renowned art collections.

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