A major fire broke out in a police complex in the Egyptian city of Ismailia.
Videos on social media showed flames rising from the city’s security directorate early Monday morning and it appeared the building’s main facade had collapsed.
Two witnesses told the Portal news agency that fire engines had been sent to the scene, but the aim was apparently to contain the fire. Some people were seen being brought out, but it was not clear if there were any injuries.
The cause of the fire was initially unknown.
I believe that most people are not capable
يارب سلم pic.twitter.com/DnW5IEVPOW– mohamed el kholy (@MElKholy) October 2, 2023
Translation: A huge fire engulfs the Ismailia Security Directorate.
I believe that most people are not capable #الإسماعيلية المصرية #عينك_على_العالم #مصر pic.twitter.com/h3WULADruP
— العين الإخبارية (@AlAinNews) October 2, 2023
Deadly fires are a common danger in Egypt, where many buildings are dilapidated and poorly maintained.
In August 2022, a fire caused by a short circuit killed 41 worshipers at a church in Cairo, prompting calls for improvements to the country’s infrastructure and fire service response time.
In March 2021, a fire at a textile factory in the capital killed at least 20 people, while in 2020 two hospital fires killed fourteen people.