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Rabat – A huge fire is reported to have erupted in the South African Parliament building in Cape Town, with authorities saying firefighters are currently getting the situation under control.
Flames and smoke were seen coming out of the building on Sunday morning. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 4:12 GMT a few minutes after receiving the initial call, according to reports.
“The fire in Parliament has affected both the Old Assembly Wing & the National Assembly Wing of the buildings of Parliament. The fire has been contained in the old wing. Firefighters are currently trying to control the fire in the New Wing,” said a tweet by the South African Government.
Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula also said that the National Assembly caught fire, contradicting previous reports that only the old wing had been affected.
The fire started in offices on the third floor and spread to the National Assembly chamber, according to Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Jermaine Carelse.
Although the cause of the fire remains undetermined, MP Samantha Graham has said that it could have been prevented, bringing attention to an external report which highlighted fire hazards in the building.
In response to the allegations, Mapisa-Nqakula said that the report’s recommendations had been implemented.
36 firefighters were initially dispatched to the scene before authorities called for additional support. No injuries have been reported in the fire.
MPs are to continue their work remotely for the time being and the State of the Nation Address is still planned to go ahead in February as planned.
At the time of writing, the fire still has not been completely put out or brought under control.
“We have not been able to contain the fire in the national assembly chambers. Part of the ceilings have collapsed,” Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Patricia De Lille said.
She also cautioned against unfounded speculations on the cause of the fire as investigations continue.
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