File Photo: Egyptian firemen try to put out a fire after it gutted a furniture factory in Obour City, east of Cairo (Photo: Al-Ahram Arabic website)
Egyptian prosecutors are set to question on Wednesday the owner of a furniture factory in Qalyubia over a fire that killed 25 people and injured 22 on Tuesday.
The prosecution has formed a committee to investigate the cause of the fire, which ravaged the three storey factory in Obour, and to determine how the victims were killed and injured, Al-Ahram newspaper reported.
A security source told Al-Ahram Arabic news website on Tuesday that the fire erupted due to the explosion of a gas tank that workers were delivering to the factory.
A statement released by the Ministry of Interior on Tuesday said the fire had been contained by 23 fire engines.
According to the ministry, the fire engulfed the factory during the morning shift.
The Qalyubia governor announced that the families of the victims will be financially compensated: LE20,000 for the dead, and LE5,000 for the injured.
Last week, in another deadly accident, a party boat collided with a cargo ship near Al-Warraq district in Giza, causing the former to capsize, leaving 38 dead. This case is also being investigated by the prosecution.
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