A fire erupted within Sierra Leone’s presidential building, located in central Freetown, on Saturday, according to eyewitnesses and the government.
An AFP report noted that President Julius Maada Bio was not present when the fire started.
The fire originated on the third and fourth floors of State House, while the president’s office on the second floor remained unaffected, as stated by the information ministry.
“Emergency teams are working diligently to ensure it remains protected,” the statement added.
The cause of the fire, which began around 4 pm, is currently unknown, according to the ministry’s statement.
Social media videos depicted flames visible from the upper-level windows of the large white building, accompanied by thick black smoke.
Local resident Mohamed Kamara informed AFP, “We saw smoke and fire billowing from the windows and the top floor of the building this evening.”
Police established cordons around the streets surrounding the building, and security personnel along with soldiers were deployed to the scene.
President Bio is currently in Turkey, attending a conference.
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