2017-01-06 13:16:00

Fire destroys part of Togo’s Cathedral


A fire on Monday evening, this week, burned down part of the iconic Sacred Heart of Lomé’s Cathedral. Fortunately, greater damage was avoided as the fire was brought under control by the rapid intervention of firefighters.

According to witnesses, the fire started in the afternoon about 16.30, local time. The administrator of the Cathedral, Father Désiré Kpodar, was alerted to the fire by a loud noise emanating from the side of the Sacristy.

Very quickly, a huge crowd gathered around the building to fight the flames before the arrival of firefighters. According to Lieutenant-Colonel Agoro Tchanile, commander of firefighters in Lomé, the fire was contained within 45 minutes.

There were no reported injuries or loss of life.

The Cathedral of Lomé is a historical building situated right in the heart of the Togolese capital. It attracts thousands of visitors each year. Of Gothic style, it was built between 1901 - 1902 by German Catholic missionaries. On 9 August 1985, Pope Saint John Paul II celebrated Mass in the Cathedral when he visited Togo.

Although no one was harmed by the fire, initial indications, suggest massive losses regarding destroyed exceptional ornamental pieces, historical and traditional Church vestments such as Chasubles and precious liturgical documents that were stored in the Sacristy.

Togo’s Minister of Emergency and Safety, who rushed to the scene, declined to comment on the cause of the fire preferring to wait for investigators to establish the cause.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Lome, Denis Komivi Amuzu-Dzakpah said measures would be put in place to reopen the Cathedral to the faithful as soon as it safe to do so.  

(Source: Jeuneafrique)

Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va








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