Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on Friday praised the nearly 500 firefighters who have been tirelessly working to control a massive fire in Lima since Thursday noon.
Located in Cercado de Lima district, the blazing building housed wholesale hardware stores, warehouses, as well as illegal workshops.
The statesman thus gave firefighters his whole support and words of encouragement.
Joining Mr. Kuczynski were his wife
Nancy Lange and Interior Minister Carlos Basombrio.
The devastating blaze has been rippling through the structure for an entire day.
Fire brigades' work is further complicated by the highly flammable materials stored in the building.
Thick, black smoke can be seen —and felt— for kilometers.