Beijing Hotel in the South Sudanese capital caught fire on Sunday afternoon resulting in damage in 40 rooms. This is the fourth time the hotel has been damaged by fire.
Police sources say that 40 rooms were damaged in the hotel, some of which were being used by government officials working for the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Commission.
An eyewitness at the scene, Alier Monyror, said it was around 1:30 p.m. when the smoke of fire was first seen from one of the rooms in the hotel, and later from other rooms.
Monyror explained that an electrical problem had been reported at the hotel on Saturday evening and a Chinese engineer was allegedly working on the system when the blaze started.
The fire brigade did not arrive on the scene in time to stop the blaze. “Some people managed to get their properties and others who were not around didn’t manage to get them,” Monyror observed.
Fire Brigade Officer Simon Silateno noted that the hotel had suffered another even more extensive fire last year. “This is now the fourth time for Beijing Hotel to burn,” he said.
The police officer in charge at the scene, John Athuai, said they have arrested one suspect who is a Chinese engineer and believed to be behind the fire. Athuai further added that the victims of the fire wanted to beat the Chinese engineer, but later he was rescued by the police before being taken for questioning.
The manager of Beijing Hotel could not be reached for comment.
Other recent hotel fires in South Sudan’s capital city include Sahara Hotel and South Sudan Hotel, as well as Green Garden restaurant.