A 13-storey building in Giza, near the Ring Road, remains on fire for the fifth day in a row.
The fire started on Saturday at the shoes warehouse in the building due to an electric short circuit, according to the statement of the building owner, who also runs the warehouse, to the prosecution.
Egypt’s prosecution ordered on Tuesday the detention of the building owner for four days pending investigation into several charges, including constructing an unlicensed building, constructing a building on an agricultural land, and ignoring industrial safety measures in the business facility.
The building consists of 108 apartments, 15 of which were occupied. The residents were evacuated and no casualties reported.
On Tuesday, the prosecution received a police report that fire erupted again in the basement, ground and first floors due to the presence of inflammable chemical substances in the building used for storing shoes.
The prosecution issued an evacuation and demolition order on Tuesday to ensure the safety of neighbouring buildings and the Ring Road when the fire is fully put out.
The governor of Giza said on Tuesday that prior to the fire the authorities had issued a decision to demolish the building over construction violations, adding that a request from the owner for reconciliation was rejected.
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