A massive fire made its way through South Africa’s Parliament on Sunday, destroying offices and causing the collapse of a roof in one of the buildings, according to the Associated Press.   

Pictures show smoke and flames in the air as about 70 firefighters battled the blaze in Cape Town.   

“The entire parliamentary complex is severely damaged, waterlogged and smoke damaged,” Cape Town mayoral committee member JP Smith told reporters at a press conference on Sunday.   

The complex consists of a group of buildings, some of which, CNN reported, date back to the 1880s.   

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According to Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Patricia de Lille, the fire was initially at the old Parliament building before making its way to the National Assembly chambers, where firefighters struggled to contain the fire.   

Officials are unclear about the cause of the fire but warn people not to assume it was caused deliberately.   

“Until such a time that a report has been furnished that there was arson, we have to be careful not to make suggestions that there was an attack,” said Parliament speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, AP reported.   

“This is a very sad day for our democracy because parliament is the home of our democracy and parliament is also a strategic key point,” de Lille said. 

This is a developing story.