Huge Petrochemical Plant Blast Takes Place in Vicinity of Cairo Airport
A huge explosion in a military-owned petrochemical plant near the Cairo International Airport took place late on Thursday due to hot weather, said Egypt’s army spokesman, according to Al-Ahram Online.
“Because of high temperature, one of the petrochemical vessels exploded,” the spokesman said in a statement on Facebook.
Police sources told Ahram Online at least eight people were injured in the blast in Joseph Tito Street, Cairo’s Heliopolis district. No deaths have been reported.
Images shared on social media show large plumes of smoke rising up in the air near the airport. However, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement the blast would not disrupt air traffic.
The armed forces sent fire trucks and rescue teams to the scene. Firefighters have successfully put out the fire.
Residents in different parts of East Cairo took to social media, saying the explosion rocked the districts of Fifth Settlement, Heliopolis and the 10th of Ramadan City — all situated near the airport.
H.M