Welding sparks behind GEM Conference building fire

CAIRO – 3 May 2018: Welding and cutting metals sparks are behind the fire that swept through the conference building of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) last week, according to the initial investigation conducted by the General Prosecution.

The sparks set the scaffolding woods of the building on fire, the prosecution said in a statement on Thursday. The welders are being under investigations.

On Sunday, inspectors and investigators have been mandated to probe into the incident as per Attorney General Nabil Sadek’s decisions.

The fire was extinguished two hours after it swept through the building. Ten fire engines were deployed to contain the situation; no casualties have been reported.

After the opening, the Grand Egyptian Museum, located between modern Cairo and the Giza Pyramids, will contain more than 100,000 artifacts, covering 3,000 years of Egyptian history.

Described as the largest archaeological museum in the world, it spans over 491,000 square meters, and is located two kilometers away from the Giza Pyramids.