Three Killed, 17 Injured in Cairo Mall Gas Explosion

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Three people were killed and 17 others injured after a gas cylinder exploded inside a commercial mall in New Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday evening, Egyptian authorities said.

The explosion occurred inside a retail shop on the ground floor of Arabella Plaza in the Fifth Settlement area, according to Egypt's Ministry of Interior.

Fire Brought Under Control

The ministry said a helium gas cylinder exploded inside the shop, triggering a fire that was subsequently brought under control by Civil Defense teams.

The blast caused significant damage to nearby storefronts, with footage from the scene showing shattered glass and damaged commercial premises.

Egypt's Ministry of Health said eight ambulances were dispatched to the site. Eleven injured people were taken to New Cairo Specialized Hospital, while six others were transported to nearby medical facilities.

The ministry expressed condolences to the families of those killed and said hospitals had been placed on heightened alert to provide treatment to the injured.

Authorities Reject Elevator Rumors

Security sources also moved to dismiss reports circulating on social media that an elevator had collapsed inside the mall.

They said those claims were unfounded and that the gas-cylinder explosion was responsible for the incident.

Egyptian media reported that security forces cordoned off the area around the mall as emergency crews worked at the scene and authorities assessed the damage.

The explosion prompted a significant emergency response in the densely populated commercial district, while officials continued efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the cylinder's explosion.

Authorities had not immediately announced whether any further investigation had established why the cylinder exploded or whether additional safety measures would be introduced at the mall.