In a tragic turn of events, a devastating fire has engulfed several buildings in the capital of Sudan, Khartoum, following intense clashes between the country's army and rival forces.

Disturbing videos circulating online captured the iconic Greater Nile Petroleum Oil Company Tower being consumed by flames, leaving citizens in shock and despair.

Tagreed Abdin, an architect closely associated with the iconic tower, expressed her deep sorrow, stating, "This is truly painful," in a post on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). The 18-storey skyscraper, situated near the picturesque River Nile, has long been a symbol of Khartoum's skyline.

The violence that erupted in April, resulting from a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has plunged the nation into chaos. The conflict escalated further as the RSF redeployed its members across the country, a move perceived as a threat by the army.

The Sudan War Monitor, an organization monitoring the conflict, reported that the RSF had launched attacks on army-controlled areas, including an office block at the justice ministry, triggering fires in several government buildings.

Throughout Sunday, attacks on army facilities continued, with witnesses describing "huge bangs" echoing through a southern district of Khartoum, where the army focused its efforts on RSF bases.

The situation has taken a dire toll on the city's healthcare infrastructure, as all major hospitals in Khartoum and the Darfur region have been rendered out of service.

Nawal Mohammed, a resident living several kilometers from the clashes, described the recent battles as "the most violent since the war began," highlighting the unprecedented scale of violence.

Tragically, pro-democracy lawyers have reported that the conflict has claimed the lives of "dozens of civilians" in Khartoum since Friday, adding to the already staggering death toll. The violence has not been limited to the capital, as reports of fighting in the city of El-Obeid, located 400 kilometers south of Khartoum, have also emerged.

The RSF's relentless pursuit to seize control of the capital has prompted military airstrikes aimed at weakening RSF positions, intensifying the suffering of Sudanese civilians. To date, this conflict has resulted in the loss of approximately 7,500 lives and forced over five million people to flee their homes, leaving Sudan in the grip of a devastating humanitarian crisis.