In a sad incident, at least 20 people were killed and 24 others were injured when a fire broke out in a garment factory located in the north of Cairo in Egypt.
This is the latest amongst several incidents in Egypt, where safety standards and fire regulations were poorly enforced.
Last month, a thirteen-storey apartment building in Cairo was in the news after a blaze erupted at an unlicensed leather factory that occupied its first three floors.
The local governor’s office said in a statement shared that the fire, which started in the four-storey factory in El-Obour City, just north of Cairo, at about 11 am (0900 GMT), was later brought under control.
The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.
An investigation is underway in this regard and no further information was immediately available. A forensic science team is also conducting inspections to determine the cause of the fire and assess the damage.
Preliminary inspection suggests that a gas leak from chemical materials might have caused an explosion, leading to the fire mishap.
Fifteen firefighting vehicles helped extinguish the fire, while ambulances helped in taking the victims to nearby hospitals.
Reportedly, factory fires, as well as blazes elsewhere, are common in Egypt, due to laxity in enforcing industrial and other safety measures.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
