Fire rips through Cameroon parliament
An investigation is under way after the main parliament building in Cameroon's capital Yaoundé was badly damaged by a fire which ripped through four floors.
Firefighters put out the blaze before it could reach the debating chamber. But the main opposition party's offices were destroyed.
There is no word on any casualties or on the cause of the blaze.
In this week's session, the national assembly had been discussing the budget.
Pictures and video posted on social media show the upper floors in flames, hours after it first took hold.
Skip Twitter post by @Mimimefo237
Fire fighters overwhelmed by the flames.
The building is still on fire. The fire broke out at 9:50pm Cameroon time pic.twitter.com/4vknww0THg— Mimi237 (@Mimimefo237) November 16, 2017
Report
End of Twitter post by @Mimimefo237
Skip Twitter post by @CRTV_web
#Cameroon: Members of #Parliament , administrative and security officials at the National Assembly for first hand appraisal of the flames that have devastated parts of the building. pic.twitter.com/HyU4xg2sF9
— CRTVweb (@CRTV_web) November 16, 2017
Report
End of Twitter post by @CRTV_web
Skip Twitter post by @MathieuOlivier
#Cameroun : l'Assemblée nationale littéralement coupée en deux par les flammes cette nuit. pic.twitter.com/jJ2LgmppCO
— Mathieu OLIVIER (@MathieuOlivier) November 17, 2017
Report
End of Twitter post by @MathieuOlivier
Communication Minister Issa Tchiroma said the fire was probably accidental, but an investigation would determine the cause.
The main opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) party said: "We have been in parliament for 22 years, and all documentation – soft or hard – has been consumed".
