South Africa: Fire erupts in Cape Town Parliament building

Cape Town: A fire has broken out at the South African Parliament in Cape Town Sunday, local media reported.

Video footage shows a plume of black smoke filling the sky, with huge flames coming out from the roof of the building. 

As per authorities, emergency services are battling to contain the blaze. 

The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed.

36 firefighters are present at the building as large flames and a huge column of smoke were seen at around 05:30 GMT today.

The firefighters on the scene had requested more resources to tackle the blaze, Smith said.

“The fire is not under control and cracks in the walls of the building have been reported,” said officials.

It comes hours after Archbishop Desmond Tutu's state funeral at St George's Cathedral, near Parliament.

"The fire is not under control and cracks in the walls of the building have been reported," a spokesman said.

The fire was currently on the third floor, with initial reports indicating it started in the office space of the building and was spreading towards a gym at the site.

The Houses of Parliament in Cape Town are made up of three sections, with the oldest dating back to 1884. The newer sections built in the 1920s and 1980s house the National Assembly.

Looks like the South African #parliamentary building is on #fire as plumes of black smoke fill the #CapeTown skyline. https://t.co/RpmhxjA8bo

— Milton Nkosi (@nkosi_milton) January 2, 2022

Report of fire at #SouthAfrican #parliament in #capetown #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/LRBQQC0YVy

— Global.TV (@GlobalTelevsion) January 2, 2022