Cairo controls massive fire at plastic waste recycling factories; no casualties

CAIRO – 10 January 2025: Cairo authorities announced successfully containing a major fire at four plastic waste sorting and recycling factories on Shaker Tawfik Street in the Manshiyet Nasser neighborhood overnight.

Governor of Cairo Ibrahim Saber confirmed that the Civil Protection Forces extinguished the flames and are currently conducting cooling operations.

Saber stated that the fire had extended only to the four recycling factories and resulted in no injuries or fatalities.

Additionally, the nearby Simon the Tanner monastery was not impacted by the incident due to its distance from the fire site.

In response to the fire, the governor has formed an engineering committee to assess the extent of the damage to the factories and surrounding buildings.

He also instructed the swift removal of debris following the completion of investigations by the Public Prosecution and forensic teams to determine the cause of the blaze.

Earlier reports indicated that the huge fire on Thursday evening completely engulfed several houses amid widespread panic and fear among residents, who were trying escaping the rapidly spreading flames.

The cause of the fire was not immediately determined.