By SudOuest.fr with AFP
The fire that has been raging since Sunday morning has not yet been extinguished. “The chamber where the members sit has completely burned down”, lamented the spokesperson for Parliament
The enclosure of the National Assembly where South African MPs sit in Cape Town was completely destroyed in a violent fire that has been raging since Sunday morning, said the parliament spokesman.
“The room where the members sit has completely burned down”, lamented Moloto Mothapo, adding that “the fire is not yet extinguished”. The seat of Parliament is in the grip of a violent fire which created significant material damage without however causing any casualties.
The fire broke out around 5 a.m. according to the emergency services. A thick column of smoke was visible several kilometers away. Distraught Captonians waking up quickly shared photos on social networks.
RODGER BOSCH / AFP
About 80 firefighters on site
According to the first observations of the firefighters, the fire started from the old building housing the National Assembly before spreading. “The roof has caught fire and the National Assembly building is also on fire,” said Jean-Pierre Smith, responsible for the city’s fire and rescue services in the morning.
A team of thirty firefighters who arrived first on the scene battled the flames for several hours before having to retreat from the intensity of the fire and call for reinforcements. About 80 firefighters are currently on the ground. Some try, equipped with a water lance from the top of a crane, to calm the fire.
“The fire is not under control and cracks in the walls of the building have been reported,” warned Jean-Pierre Smith. “The fire is currently mounted on the 3rd floor, the first elements indicate that it started in the offices before spreading to the gymnasium”, he continued. The origin of the fire is not yet known, investigators are on site.
The city of Cape Town was already the victim of a major fire in April. A fire on Table Mountain overlooking the coastal city had spread and destroyed treasures in the library of the prestigious Cape Town University below.