Blaze in Egyptian shopping center kills 3, injures 273

A fire broke out in Al-Horria Mall, Heliopolis-Cairo, yesterday at 9:00 p.m. 3 people were reported dead and 273 others injured.

Electrical cable contact was said to be the cause of a major fire at the seven-floor shopping center in Egypt yesterday. Initial causalities included 2 dead, 273 injured, and 2 cinemas and 25 shops burnt, Cairo's governor, Dr. Abdel Rehim Shehata, stated. A thick cloud of smoke resulted in suffocation of many persons who happened to be in the mall at the time the fire broke out; panic spread all around.

The center was crowded with thousands of citizens doing their shopping and watching movies. Three firemen were injured while trying for four hours to control the fire.