A fire that engulfed the Ecobank Headquarters in Kigali on Tuesday, damaged electric systems and ceilings according to eye witnesses at the scene of the accident.

Desire Mana, the Marketing and Communication officer at Ecobank said the fire started at approximately 11:30 am.

"There is an ongoing inspection to determine the cause of the blaze. Fortunately, due to the implementation of evacuation protocols, all occupants of the building were able to safely exit. While the fire caused damage to parts of the nine-story building, the most severely affected areas were the ninth, eighth, and seventh floors. It's essential to clarify that the damage is limited to partitions within the structure,” Mana said.

Mana stated that employees, both from Ecobank and other companies housed in the building, are all safe. Any potential health concerns will be addressed once further information is available.

"A comprehensive audit is underway to assess the extent of the damage, and a formal statement will be issued following its completion,” he noted.

The official added that despite the incident, clients can rest assured that all banking services will continue to operate. However, the Ecobank Headquarters will be temporarily closed.

Media personnel were granted access to the building, and while electronics appeared to be unharmed, electrical installations and ceilings appeared to be damaged. Additionally, a few employees sustained minor injuries while attempting to access the fire escape.

Ecobank officials said that investigations into the cause of the fire is ongoing, with a focus on swiftly returning operations to normalcy.