Qalubiya governor inspects site of Obour factory fire

Qalubiya Governor Mohammad Abdel Zaher inspected the site of the huge fire that erupted in a furniture factory in Obour industrial zone.

The fire killed 24 workers and left 26 others injured.

The governor ordered the formation of specialized committee to conduct necessary investigations to know the reasons behind the outbreak of the fire and assess damage.

The fire took place in a three-story furniture factory based in an industrial zone in the city of Obour in Qalyubia governorate, northeast of Cairo.

A security official said fire erupted due to the explosion of a gas tank that workers were delivering inside the factory.

He also added that the fire quickly spread due to the materials and wooden merchandise inside the factory.

A statement released by the Ministry of Interior stated the fire had been completely contained by 23 firefighting engines.

According to the ministry, after the fire started it spread to the rest of the factory's floors during the workers' morning shift.

Several factories have evacuated their workers for fear that the fire might spread, a civil defense official in Qalyubia governorate said.