Firefighters work among the smoke after a fire broke out in the Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham
Fire has engulfed the South African Parliament in Cape Town and spread to the lower house, the National Assembly, officials said.
Jean-Pierre Smith, the mayoral committee member for safety and security, spoke at a press conference about the fire in Parliament Street, which is within Parliament's precinct. There have been no reports of injuries, said Jermaine Carelse
Xinhua quoted Smith as saying 36 firefighters from different fire departments have arrived on the scene and are requesting more resources to contain the fire.
According to preliminary reports, the fire began in an office space, he said. The Parliament complex includes century-old buildings
Sad visuals of the South African Parliament currently on fire in Cape Town.
— Hopewell Chin'ono (@daddyhope) January 2, 2022
The tragic destruction of important documents and historical artifacts in there.
Recently the University of Cape Town was also victim to a fire which destroyed important historical books and texts. pic.twitter.com/0ZKQbuZROM
Patricia de Lille, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, said the fire began on the third floor of an office building and spread toward the National Assembly building, where the South African Parliament meets.
De Lille said that the fire was in the chambers of the National Assembly. This is a very sad day for democracy since Parliament houses democracy