[MSN] AMERSFOORT, The Netherlands-A fire that started Monday afternoon has destroyed the Armando Museum in the center of Amersfoort, Dutch News reports.

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Armando Museum in Ruins After Fire
By ARTINFO
Published: October 24, 2007 

 AMERSFOORT, The Netherlands-A fire that started Monday afternoon has
destroyed the Armando Museum in the center of Amersfoort, Dutch News
reports. 

People living nearby were evacuated and spent the night in the town hall. No
one was hurt.

Works on loan by Albrecht Durer, Hercules Segers, Jacob van Ruisdael, Anselm
Kiefer, and Richard Long have all been lost. 

The museum is the permanent home for works by Armando, 78, one of the
Netherlands's most important post-WWII artists.

"I'm not thinking so much about my own work," he said. "A number of the
works on loan are irreplaceable."

The fire started in the tower of the 19th century Elleberg church, where the
museum is located.

Officials have not yet determined cost from the damage, but media report the
insurance value of the destroyed artworks at nearly $4.3 million.

An investigation has been started into the cause of the blaze. The church
roof was undergoing construction when fire broke out. 

The blaze is under control but the church tower may yet collapse.