A fire broke out in the State House, presidential building in Sierra Leone, on Saturday, and fired in Central Freetown on Saturday, throwing smoke into the sky.
The fire affected the third and fourth floors of the building, but the president’s office on the second floor remains unaffected, according to government officials.
The incident occurred around 4 p.m., and although the exact cause of the fire was unclear, the government has confirmed that then-President Julius Maada Maada Bio was not there at the time.
President Beio is currently attending an international conference in Türkiye.
The Ministry of Information’s official statement assured the public that the emergency team is working to protect the building and prevent further damage.
“The emergency team is working hard to ensure it is protected,” Statement reading.
Videos shared on social media platforms depict flames floating above the upper floors of large white buildings, with thick black smoke emitting from windows.
Mohamed Kamara, a local resident, described the chaos at AFP, saying, “We saw smoke and fire rolling from the windows and the top floors of the building tonight.”
In response to the fire, police blocked the streets around the state capitol and deployed other security personnel, including soldiers, to maintain orders and prevent any security violations.
