The Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar, the highest seat of Sunni Muslim learning, ordered aswift probe into a fire that broke out at one of Al-Azhar University hospitals on Saturday, the website of Egypt's state TV said.

The fire at Al-Hussein University Hospital, in Al-Azhar district in old Cairo, caused no deaths but injured three people, according to the health ministry.

Online footage showed sheets of flames and thick billows of smoke rising from the building, charring the façade of the top three floors.

The fire also completely damaged the hospital's ophthalmology department, according to General Director of Al-Azhar Hospital Ahmed Selim. He said it is thought to have been caused by a short circuit of an air conditioner.

Al-Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb ordered late on Saturday quick investigations be carried out into the cause of the fire to hold those responsible to account. Prosecutors have yet to announce the source of the fire.

More than 100 patients, including those in the Intensive Care unit, were moved to other nearby hospitals, Al-Azhar University said on Saturday.

Selim added that no harm was caused to the Intensive Care unit and that the hospital will be back in full operation soon.

More than 10 firefighting vehicles were used to put out the fire on Saturday which came from the building's fourth floor.







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