A 39-year-old man was walking out of his penthouse in Triq il-Ġiżimin, Swieqi yesterday morning when, to his horror, the place was suddenly enveloped in a cloud of thick smoke.

The police said the man immediately dialled the emergency number and the flames were soon extinguished by firemen. They said no one was inside at the time but appliances and furniture were extensively damaged.

It remained unclear what started the fire, the police said.

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