The death toll of an explosion at Manial in Cairo rose to 20 while the number of injured rose to 30, the Nile News channel quoted Advisor to the Minister of Health and official spokesperson of the ministry Khaled Megahed.
On Sunday evening, seven cars parked in front of the National Cancer Institute in Manial exploded, injuring and killing dozens.
Patients and medical staff were evacuated from the institute’s building.
The Ministry of Health dispatched 42 ambulances immediately to the scene after the explosion. Thirty-four patients were transferred from the Cancer Institute and distributed to the Nasser Institute Hospital, the Dar al-Salam Cancer Center, and the Mounira General Hospital.
The ministry announced a state of emergency and summoned professors and consultants from all medical disciplines, especially micro-surgery.
It also checked blood balances at the hospitals to ensure it would cover the injured.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly conveyed his condolences to the families of the explosion’s victims on Monday.
He also followed up the injured victims at the hospitals.
Madbouly telephoned Minister of Higher Education Khalid Abdel Ghaffar, to coordinate for the immediate rehabilitation of the National Cancer Institute, partially damaged in the explosion. The Arab Contractors Company will be in charge of the rehabilitation work.
The Prime Minister also contacted the Chairman of the Arab Contractors Company, Mohsen Salah, and stressed the need to quickly complete the Institute’s reconstruction work so it can resume providing medical services to cancer patients.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
