Forty-four people have been injured in a petrochemicals factory fire in Alexandria governorate on Monday, Egypt's health ministry announced on Monday evening, according to the Al-Ahram Arabic website.

The ministry said the fire at Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals (Sidpec) factory was caused by an exploding gas tank in the factory's ethylene unit on the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road.

Ambulance authority chief Dr. Ahmed Al-Ansari stated that 25 ambulances were sent to the location as soon as it was reported.

Ministry spokesperson Khaled Meghad stated that two people were transferred to El-Gomhouriya Hospital with burns on more than 60 percent of their bodies. Six others with similar burns are in a critical condition at Ras El-Teen hospital, he said.

He also stated that 36 others with minor-to-moderate burns were transferred to El-Amaria Hospital.

Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla stated on Monday that the ministry has formed a committee to investigate the reasons behind the fire. The ministry is also monitoring developments in the company, which is state-owned, he said.