At least 24 killed, many injured in Egypt factory fire

At least 24 people were killed and 24 others injured in a fire at a three-storey furniture factory on Tuesday, reportedly triggered by a gas cylinder explosion, in the Egyptian Capital's outskirts, officials said.

At least 24 people were killed and 24 others injured in a fire at a three-storey furniture factory on Tuesday, reportedly triggered by a gas cylinder explosion, in the Egyptian Capital's outskirts, officials said.

Egyptian-firemen-put-out-the-flames-after-a-fire-broke-out-at-the-Al-Helw-furniture-factory-north-of-the-Capital-Cairo-AFP-Photo

The fire which gutted a factory in Obour City, north of Cairo, has killed 24 workers, the health ministry said.

24 others were injured in the fire, ministry official Mohamed Lashin was quoted as saying by the Al-Ahram Arabic news website.

Some of those badly injured died before the ambulance could reach hospitals, Lashin said.

The fire swept through the three-storey factory and its warehouse after a gas cylinder exploded, security officials said.

The video footage posted on social networks showed thick smoke billowing from the factory as rescuers crowded to help the victims.