Huge fire breaks out at South African Parliament in Cape Town

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    Emily Sørensen
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    Flames engulf a building at South Africa's Parliament in Cape Town Sunday Jan. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

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    Flames swallow up the roofing of South Africa’s Parliament in Cape Town (Picture: AP)

    South Africa’s Parliament has ‘burned down’ after a big blaze ripped through the Cape Town structure.

    The fire broke out on the 3rd flooring of an office complex and infect the National Assembly, where MPs sits.

    The roofing of the structure is reported to have actually collapsed and the flames have actually gutted the primary part of the structure. It’s uncertain how the fire began.

    Minister Patricia de Lille stated: ‘The fire is currently in the National Assembly chambers. This is a very sad day for democracy for Parliament is the home of our democracy.’

    No injuries were reported as 35 firemens fought the blaze, thought to have actually begun at 6am.

    Spokesperson Molotho Mothapo stated: ‘The entire chamber where the members sit… has burned down.’

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and lots of high-ranking political leaders remained in Cape Town for Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s funeral service, which occurred close by at St George’s Cathedral on Saturday.

    Ms De Lille verified the fire teams now ‘have the situation under control’.

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    Firefighters are seen on a ladder of a fire engine as smoke billows from the roof of a building at the South African Parliament precinct in Cape Town on January 2, 2022, during a fire incident. (Photo by Marco LONGARI / AFP) (Photo by MARCO LONGARI/AFP via Getty Images)

    Firefighters utilize to deal with the blaze from above (Picture: AFP)

    Smoke rises after a fire broke out at the Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, January 2, 2022. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham

    The fire infect the National Assembly structure (Picture: Reuters)

    A fire burns at the Houses of Parliament, in Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. The country's minister of public works and infrastructure said Sunday's fire started on the third floor of a building that houses offices and spread to the National Assembly building, where South Africa's Parliament sits. (AP Photo/Leon Knipe)

    Thick black smoke and flames appear from the Parliament structure (Picture: AP)

    A plume of smoke arises above the Houses of Parliament, behind the St. George's Cathedral, in Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. Firefighters have been deployed and the cause is unknown. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

    Table Mountain and the Cape Town horizon can be seen behind the smoke (Picture: AP)

    It was feared parts of structures, initially integrated in the late 1800 s, may collapse due to the heat.

    ‘The bitumen on the roof is even melting, an indication of the intense heat. There have been reports of some walls showing cracks, which could indicate a collapse,’ fire service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse stated.

    The Parliament complex was cordoned off as authorities closed roadways and blocked-off locations where individuals had actually left flowers and other homages to Tutu.

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