A deadly fire and explosion tore through a textile dye facility in Egypt’s Nile Delta city of Mahalla early Friday, leaving at least eight people dead and 29 others injured, according to officials.
Authorities revealed that the blaze began when an electrical short circuit triggered a boiler explosion on the building’s second floor. The fire quickly spread, causing part of the structure to collapse. Mahalla, located in Gharbia province about 103 kilometers north of Cairo, is a hub for Egypt’s textile industry.
Governor Ashraf el-Gendy, who visited the site, said in a statement that emergency crews had contained the flames and were clearing debris. Rescue teams were still working to free three individuals trapped under the rubble, though their conditions were not immediately known.
The governor’s office confirmed in an AP report that among the casualties were members of the civil defense who lost their lives while battling the fire. Of the injured, one remained in intensive care, eight were still hospitalized, and the rest had been discharged after treatment.
The incident comes just months after a July fire destroyed the headquarters of Egypt’s main telecom provider in downtown Cairo, injuring 14 people and disrupting mobile and internet services across the capital.
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