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Update (April 20): Nature reports that in addition to the library, the botany building also suffered significant damage. UCT’s Plant Conservation Unit lost all of the fossilized pollen used to study climate change, along with photographs and slides that had not yet been digitized. The library is asking for anyone who has scanned or photocopied versions of any ruined materials to get in touch.
Over the weekend (April 17), a fire that began on Table Mountain adjacent to the University of Cape Town in South Africa spread down to the campus, causing 4,000 students to be evacuated. The fire could not be contained before it reached the campus library that is home to thousands of priceless original manuscripts and personal papers documenting African history. Until the fire is put out, officials will not be able to determine which collections have been lost.
“It was just flames ...
