Updated: 19 Injured in Major Fire at Egypt’s Largest Convention Centre

Nineteen people were injured – six of whom have been hospitalised – as a huge fire blazed through various buildings in the Cairo International Convention Centre in Nasr City east of Cairo.

Most of the injured suffered from smoke inhalation and bruises at Egypt’s largest convention centre, said Egypt’s Health Ministry.

The fire has been completely contained and measures have being taken to ensure it would not re-ignite, reported Egyptian state TV quoting police sources.

Cairo’s Security Director Khaled Youssef said the cause of the fire has not been determined yet.

Huge plumes of smoke rose out of one of the buildings in the sprawling centre which hosts many of the country’s major conferences.

Witnesses said the smoke could be seen from a few kilometers distance.

Sixteen fire trucks struggled to contain the blaze, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.

Egypt’s state TV reported military helicopters have also assisted in the rescue efforts.

A state TV correspondent said the fire had reached the main conference hall before firefighters contained it. 

The fire reportedly originated in one of the centre’s administrative buildings.

Source: Ahram Online