A massive conflagration engulfed the edifice housing the Ismailia Security Directorate in the Egyptian metropolis of Ismailia on Monday, resulting in injuries to no fewer than 38 individuals, as per reports disseminated by local media outlets.
At the time of the incident, there were no immediate reports of fatalities. It is pertinent to note that the establishment is under constant occupation by military personnel, with local medical facilities being promptly placed on heightened alert in response to the unfolding emergency.
Video footage aired on local media channels depicted billows of smoke ascending from the entirety of the multi-storey structure, which had been rendered pitch-black by the intensity of the blaze.
As of now, the precise cause of this inferno, which ignited in the early hours of the day, remains shrouded in mystery.
Of the 26 injured individuals who were subsequently transported to a nearby medical facility, a staggering 24 were afflicted by “asphyxiation,” while the remaining two sustained burn injuries. These details were reported by local media, citing statements from the health ministry.
Furthermore, an additional dozen individuals received on-site medical attention. The response from the health ministry was swift, dispatching a contingent of 50 ambulances to the disaster scene. This fleet was augmented by the deployment of military emergency services, including the mobilization of two aircraft, according to accounts provided by state media outlets.
It is disconcertingly noteworthy that Egypt frequently contends with deadly fire incidents, predominantly attributed to lax enforcement of fire safety regulations and the sluggish arrival of emergency response teams.
In a lamentable episode that transpired in August 2022, a fire sparked by a short circuit claimed the lives of 41 worshippers within a Cairo church. This tragic event elicited vociferous appeals for the enhancement of the nation’s infrastructure and the expeditious response capabilities of the firefighting brigade.
Prior to this, in March 2021, a devastating blaze at a textile factory in the capital claimed the lives of at least 20 individuals. In 2020, two separate fires at healthcare facilities resulted in the loss of 14 lives, underscoring the urgent imperative for stringent fire safety measures and enhanced emergency preparedness within the country.
By AFP
