Fire at furniture factory east of Cairo kills 25 people, injures 22, says health ministry

CAIRO – A fire that erupted 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 an elevator. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.

Egyptian state-run media said the factory in the 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 Abdel-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.