Firefighters climb up a ladder on the burning building of police headquarters in Ismailia, northeastern Egypt following a fire Monday, Oct. 2, 2023. A huge fire broke out early Monday in the police headquarters, injuring multiple people, the health ministry said. AP
Civil Defence units, supported by two military aircraft, contained the blaze hours later.
The health ministry deployed 50 ambulances to treat the victims. The ambulances transported 26 people to a nearby hospital, where 24 of them were treated for asphyxiation and two for burns.
Of these, seven were discharged after receiving treatment, the health ministry added. Twelve other victims were treated at the site, it noted.
In its initial statement, the Public Prosecution said it was notified of the fire at 4:30am local time.
The prosecution’s statement said only 33 people were injured, without providing further details.
The prosecution said it started its investigation by questioning the victims being treated at the Ismailia Medical Complex and Suez Canal Authority Hospital.
Following the incident, Minister of Interior Mahmoud Tawfik arrived at the site, ordering the formation of a committee to investigate the fire.
He also directed the building's structure to be reviewed to determine how it could be repaired.
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