25 dead in Egypt furniture factory fire

A fire at a furniture factory east of Cairo on Tuesday killed 25 people and injured 22, Egypt's Health Ministry said.

According to a security official, a preliminary investigation indicated that the blaze started when a gas cylinder exploded as it was transported in a lift. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to reporters.

Egyptian state-run media said the factory in the industrial city of al-Obour had not obtained a government safety certification. Local media reported that firefighters had gained control of the blaze in the afternoon by using about 20 fire trucks.

Health Ministry spokesman Hossam Abd al-Ghaffar said in a statement that the victims were taken to local hospitals, which declared a "state of emergency" to deal with the casualties, state media said.

Governor of Qalyubia Province Mohammad Abd al-Zaher told Youm7, the families of the victims of the blaze will receive 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($700) in compensation.

Such accidents are relatively common in Egypt. A separate fire at a food market in Alexandria, Egypt's second-largest city, injured at least 11 people on the same day.

Last week, at least 40 were killed when their party boat collided with a cargo ship on the Nile that prompted criticism of Egypt's transportation and infrastructure safety standards.