Fire consumes President Kiir’s residential office

February 09, 2012 (JUBA) – A fire broke out at the official residence of South Sudanese president, Salva Kiir on Thursday and burnt down a building he uses as an office.

The incident, which started at about 7:00pm local time was reportedly attributed to an electrical fault said to have emanated from an electrical pole next to the house. No casualties were involved.

Eye witnesses last evening told Sudan Tribune that huge flames were seen emerging from the President’s home, located on the outskirts of Juba, South Sudan’s capital.

“I was in my house but immediately rushed out on hearing the president’s house was burning. This was at about 7:30pm,” said an eye witness.

Security officials, sources said, completely sealed off the scene of the incident. Only staff from the fire brigade department were permitted entry into the residence.

Kenneth Thomas, the president’s press and media relations downplayed the fire outbreak, describing it as “minor incident.”

Cases of fire out breaks have, in the recent past, been a major occurrence in South Sudan. December last year, a fire at South Sudan’s Juba Being Hotel destroyed several properties and caused extensive damage.

In 2009, another fire at the same hotel destroyed nearly 60 rooms.

(ST)