IN IMAGES, IN PICTURES – A violent fire broke out at the seat of Parliament on Sunday morning. He has already left behind significant material damage, without causing any casualties. A 51-year-old man was arrested.
The emergency services have been fighting for more than 24 hours: the devastating fire in the South African Parliament in Cape Town, which broke out early Sunday morning and reduced the National Assembly precincts to ashes, was brought under control on the morning of Monday January 3 , according to firefighters. “The fire was brought under control overnight, the workforce on site was gradually reduced», Declared Monday, January 3 in the morning the spokesperson of the firefighters of the city, Jermaine Carelse.
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About twenty rescuers were still there, the fire continuing in the oldest parts of the building which conceal treasures: some 4,000 works of art and heritage, some of which date back to the 17th century. The Library of Parliament, which has a unique collection of books, appears to have been spared. The extent of the damage has not yet been established, but the grounds of the National Assembly have been completely destroyed. “Most of the damage is probably in this building which will not be able to be used for months.“, According to Jermaine Carelse. The presidents of the two chambers and members of the government must meet during the day for a first inventory.
“Significant damage”
The enclosure of the National Assembly where the South African deputies sit was completely destroyed by a violent fire which has been raging since early Sunday morning at the seat of Parliament in Cape Town. “The room where the members sit has completely burned down“Moloto Mothapo told AFP. No casualties were reported, but a 51-year-old man was arrested inside Parliament. During questioning as part of the criminal investigation which was opened, he “will appear in court on TuesdaySaid Thandi Mbambo, spokesperson for South Africa’s elite police unit, the Hawks.
The fire started around 5 a.m. (3 a.m. GMT) in the oldest wing of the building, completed in 1884, with rooms covered with precious wood and where parliamentarians previously sat. Part of the roof collapsed. “The roof of the old building housing the National Assembly has collapsed, nothing remains”, Declared to the press the person in charge of the services of security and rescue of the City, Jean-Pierre Smith. “The whole has suffered extensive damage caused by smoke and water“, he added. In front of the press, President Cyril Ramaphosa, who visited the site, gave some details. “It seems like the automatic extinguishing system did not work as it is supposed to“, He declared, before hammering:”Parliament’s work will continue“.
The historic building which houses a valuable collection of books and the original copy of the controversial first national anthem sung during apartheid “Die Stem Suid-AfrikaSouth Africa’s voice in Afrikaans is also damaged.
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The fire then went to devour the more recent parts today in service. Aerial images broadcast on television showed huge flames rising from the rooftops of the imposing Victorian building with its brick red and white facade. The streets of the upscale neighborhood were quickly cordoned off.
The security cordon extended to the flowers still spread on the forecourt of the neighboring Saint-Georges Cathedral, where the funeral of Desmond Tutu, the last hero of the anti-apartheid struggle who died on December 26, took place the day before. At dawn on Sunday, his ashes were buried in the church in a private ceremony.
A rain of ashes
Some 70 firefighters were mobilized against the disaster. Some tried, with a water lance from the top of a crane, to overcome the flames. A first aid team arrived early on the scene tried for several hours to calm the fire but had to back down in the face of its intensity and call for reinforcements.
Inside the rooms, a fine rain of gray ash fell from the ceilings onto floors strewn with debris. The emergency services fear that the fire will continue to spread in these old rooms adorned with rich carpets and curtains.
The building had already been the victim of a quickly contained fire in March, also starting from its oldest wing. The recent annexes were built in the 1920s and 1980s.