Disaster struck central Cairo’s Al-Zaitoun district in central Cairo after a massive fire tore through a garment factory and warehouse located within a 12-story residential building.
The blaze resulted in nine fatalities and nine injuries, with five remaining in critical condition. The fire broke out Tuesday afternoon and raged until dawn on Wednesday; firefighting crews continued cooling operations throughout the day to prevent any re-ignition.
Police arrested three brothers who owned the facility after investigations revealed the factory operated without a legal license and lacked necessary safety and fire protection systems.
The Public Prosecution launched an inquiry, requesting forensic reports to determine the exact causes of death and commissioning an urgent engineering committee to inspect the structural integrity of the affected building.
Cairo’s Civil Protection forces managed to bring the inferno under control after a grueling multi-hour effort involving six fire engines and ten ambulances.
As a precautionary move, electricity and gas utilities were disconnected from the area while the injured were evacuated to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment.
The incident has reignited the national debate over industrial safety and the lack of oversight regarding unlicensed factories, sparking widespread calls for stricter enforcement to protect the lives of both workers and residents.
