A huge fire at a cooking oil plant in the port city of Suez (Photo: Al-Ahram)
A huge fire broke out on Friday at a cooking oil plant in the port city of Suez, causing millions of pounds worth of losses but leaving no casualties, state news agency MENA reported.
The fire in a factory located in the industrial zone in Attaqa district destroyed around 1000 tonnes of products at the company's major warehouse, causing estimated losses of LE100 million (nearly $14 million), an official at the company told Al-Ahram Arabic news website.
Preliminary investigations show an explosion in Freon tubes in the plant's oil tanks caused the fire, a security source said.
Civil and army firefighters were attempting to put out the fire, provincial security chief Tarek El-Gazzar said.
At least eight firefighters suffered breathing difficulties during the operation.
Additional fire engines from petroleum companies in the region were also used.
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