The fire department in the Egyptian governorate of Gharbiya contained a massive fire that broke out in the crowded commercial area of El-Khan in the commercial city of Tanta on Sunday.

The fire ruined thirteen stores and completely destroyed the five-storey state-owned Bayae El-Masnouaat department store.

According to General Mostafa Baz, the chief of police of Gharbiya, the fire killed one person and injured at least 23 others.

Governor of the Delta governorate, Mohamed Abdel-Kader, announced that the government will issue LE10,000 in compensation to the family of the man who lost his life in the disaster.

The source of the fire has not yet been determined.

Tanta is the fifth largest city in egypt with an estimated population of 492,000.

Meanwhile, in northeastern Egypt, some 3000 employees of the state-owned Nasr Oil Company (NOC) located in the Egyptian canal city of Suez returned to their jobs Sunday following a six-day work stoppage due to another factory fire.