Hotel fire in downtown Cairo injures 15 people

Egypt’s Interior Ministry says 15 people have been injured in a fire in a busy low-price commercial area in downtown Cairo.

A ministry statement carried by the official MENA news agency says the fire erupted early today morning inside the six-story Hotel Andalusia in the populous Ataba neighborhood.

The flames quickly spread to an adjacent warehouse building. The street is packed with street vendors and small shops.

MENA says army fire engines and dozens from the Cairo Fire Department are extinguishing the blaze. All hotel guests were evacuated.

Six of the 15 injured were treated for breathing difficulties on site. The rest were taken to a nearby hospital and are all reported to be in stable condition. The cause of the blast was unknown and an investigation is underway.