Watan – A massive fire engulfed the Ismailia Security Directorate in the early hours of Monday, with harrowing visuals of the inferno shared on social media platforms. While official statements have yet to confirm any casualties, potential Egyptian presidential candidate, Ahmed El-Tantawi, extended his condolences to the “martyrs” of the tragic incident.
El-Tantawi, in a statement released on the “X” platform, conveyed his sympathies, saying, “On behalf of myself and all members of my electoral campaign, we extend our deepest condolences for the martyrdom of one of the police officers in the massive fire that struck the Ismailia Security Directorate building.” He further urged his campaign members and supporters in Ismailia to provide all possible support to the victims, including blood donations and hospital visits.
Eyewitnesses, despite the absence of official announcements, have asserted the likelihood of fatalities given the magnitude of the blaze. At least 38 individuals have reportedly sustained injuries.
Egypt’s Minister of Interior, Mahmoud Tawfiq, addressed President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during the “Hekaya Watan” conference but made no mention of the fire. The Ministry of Interior later released a statement highlighting Tawfiq’s visit to the site and his directive to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the fire cause.
The Egyptian Public Prosecution, in an urgent statement, confirmed receiving a notification about the fire at 4:30 AM on Monday. Preliminary investigations revealed the complete charring of the directorate building, with flames emanating from its upper floors. A team from the Public Prosecution is currently investigating the incident, having already interviewed 33 of the injured.