Massive fire engulfs Egypt's Ismailia police HQs, injures dozens

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Oct 2023 07:59
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The exact cause of the fire, which ignited at the Directorate of Security headquarters before dawn, remains unknown at this point.

Egypt's Ismailia police HQs engulfed with fire (Social media)

A massive fire erupted on Monday at a police headquarters in the Egyptian city of Ismailia, resulting in the injury of at least 38 people, according to local media.

Of 26 wounded who were transferred to a local hospital, 24 had suffered from "asphyxiation" and two from burns, local media reported citing the Health Ministry.

Twelve more were treated at the scene.

The initial number was at least 26 people, including some in critical condition, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported.

According to our correspondent, the fire raged on for more than 3 hours before it was extinguished, and the Public Prosecution will work on investigating its causes.

Egyptian media, quoting medical sources, put the number of injuries at 100.

It is worth noting that the building is constantly manned by soldiers around the clock, and hospitals were put on alert in anticipation of potential victims.

Local media footage depicted smoke billowing from the multi-story building, which had turned entirely black due to the fire.

مشاهد توثق لحظة سقوط أحد الأشخاص أثناء محاولته النجاة من حريق مبنى مديرية أمن #الإسماعيلية .
تنبيه: مشاهد حساسة#مصر #مديرية_أمن_الإسماعيلية #حريق_الإسماعيلية pic.twitter.com/j8swkTeMYq
— تغطية (@coveragetheard) October 2, 2023

#BREAKING #Egypt A massive fire in the Egyptian Ismailia Security Directorate. pic.twitter.com/zDCsZNkmkv
— The National Independent (@NationalIndNews) October 2, 2023

Later, it was reported that Civil Protection Forces were able to control the fire at the Ismailia Security Directorate.

#BREAKING | Egyptian TV: Civil Protection Forces were able to control the fire at the Ismailia Security Directorate.#Egypt #Cairo #مصر #القاهرة #الإسماعيلية pic.twitter.com/AdJRagrocp
— Breaking news 24/7 (@aliifil1) October 2, 2023

The exact cause of the fire, which ignited at the Directorate of Security headquarters before dawn, remains unknown at this point.

According to state media, the Health Ministry swiftly dispatched 50 ambulances to the scene, and two military planes were en route to provide assistance.

تقريبا كده داخلين علي عهد حريق القاهره... انت متخيل مديريه امن الاسماعليله تتحرق بالمنظر ده معناه ايه ؟؟؟#حريق_الاسماعيليه pic.twitter.com/r1oYQLprnI
— ⚡ الـمُـشـاهِـد ⚡ (@brince_7_one) October 2, 2023

Egypt faces a recurring and significant risk of deadly fires, primarily due to the infrequent checkups of fire safety regulations and often sluggish emergency response services.

In August 2022, a fire sparked by an electrical short circuit tragically claimed the lives of 41 worshippers in a Cairo church, prompting urgent calls for infrastructure improvements and enhanced fire brigade response times.

In March 2021, a fire in the capital resulted in the loss of at least 20 lives at a textile factory, while in 2020, two separate hospital fires led to the tragic deaths of 14 individuals.