ALBAWABA - A tragic incident took place in New Damietta, a city in northern Egypt, when a massive fire broke out in a major shopping mall, caused by a helium gas cylinder explosion, local media reported Friday.
The incident resulted in the deaths of three people and injurie to 18 others, amidst widespread panic and fear near the explosion area.
Security forces in Damietta Governorate received a report of an explosion inside a shop while a helium cylinder was being used to fill advertising balloons.
The force of the explosion caused a large fire that quickly spread to other parts of the shopping center before rescue teams managed to contain it.
First responders rushed to the scene of the incident and were able to control the fire and prevent it from spreading to the rest of the neighboring shops.
The security services also evacuated the mall completely and imposed a tight security cordon around the area to ensure the safety of citizens.
