A fire that erupted in the early hours of 2 October 2023 has devoured the security headquarters of the Suez Canal governorate of Ismailiya, some 125km northeast Cairo. Fire fighter trucks rushed to the scene in an attempt to contain the flames, and were later joined by two military aircrafts. The building was immediately evacuated. Official figures cited no casualties, and 38 injured.
The Ministry of Health put Ismailiya hospitals on high alert, and sent 50 fully equipped ambulance vehicles to the scene to treat the injured; 12 were given first aid and treatment on the spot and sent home. Another 26 cases were moved to Ismailiya Medical Complex; seven of them have been treated and are already back home. Health Ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, said that most of the patients suffered from asphyxia and burns.
Ismailiya Governor Sherif Fahmy Bishara visited the injured in hospital.
Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfiq rushed to the scene of the fire and announced that a committee has been set up to investigate the cause of the fire.
No reason has been yet cited for the fire which totally consumed Ismailiya Security Directorate headquarters. The Public Prosecution issued a statement informing that a 13-member committee has been formed to investigate the fire. The committee started the investigation by hearing the testimonies the injured.
Watani International
2 October 2023