Egyptian theatre blaze kills 32

CAIRO – At least 32 people perished in a fire in an Egyptian theatre apparently set off by lighted candles used on stage, with the blaze provoking a deadly stampede as burning spectators tried to flee.

The flames swept through the theatre in the Nile town of Beni Suef south of Cairo late on Monday, one of the deadliest such incidents in recent years in Egypt, where safety regulations in public places are rarely enforced. Footage aired by Egyptian public television showed a man – his face distorted by pain and the flesh on his arms torn off by the flames – throwing himself to the ground and struggling to rip his clothes off.Hospital sources told the official MENA news agency that some of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition while 12 of the 37 wounded were in serious condition and some had to be evacuated to the capital for treatment.Witnesses quoted by the Egyptian press said it took firefighters more than two hours to fight put out the fire, which took hold about 11:30pm, reducing much of the theatre to ashes and also destroying palm trees nearby.One witness told the state-owned Al-Akhbar newspaper that the fire transformed the theatre into “hell.”The blaze apparently started when lighted candles used by the actors set fire to the stage curtains, MENA reported.The flames spread high and rapidly, fuelled by combustible items that were part of the set’s decor, including paper and wood, sending vast plumes of smoke into the air.It provoked panic among the crowd as theatre-goers attempted to escape the blaze, with many of the victims believed to have been trampled underfoot.Health Minister Mohammed Awad Tag Eddin told state television that 16 of those injured suffered burns exceeding 60 per cent.”There were also deaths due to asphyxiation,” said Anas Gaafar, governor of Beni Suef which lies about 150 kilometres south of Cairo.The performance was part of an experimental theatre festival that brought together actors from the Mediterranean cities of Port Said and Alexandria.Firefighters rescued some 60 people and local health officials mobilised 25 ambulances to evacuate the injured.- Nampa-AFPFootage aired by Egyptian public television showed a man – his face distorted by pain and the flesh on his arms torn off by the flames – throwing himself to the ground and struggling to rip his clothes off.Hospital sources told the official MENA news agency that some of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition while 12 of the 37 wounded were in serious condition and some had to be evacuated to the capital for treatment.Witnesses quoted by the Egyptian press said it took firefighters more than two hours to fight put out the fire, which took hold about 11:30pm, reducing much of the theatre to ashes and also destroying palm trees nearby.One witness told the state-owned Al-Akhbar newspaper that the fire transformed the theatre into “hell.”The blaze apparently started when lighted candles used by the actors set fire to the stage curtains, MENA reported.The flames spread high and rapidly, fuelled by combustible items that were part of the set’s decor, including paper and wood, sending vast plumes of smoke into the air.It provoked panic among the crowd as theatre-goers attempted to escape the blaze, with many of the victims believed to have been trampled underfoot.Health Minister Mohammed Awad Tag Eddin told state television that 16 of those injured suffered burns exceeding 60 per cent.”There were also deaths due to asphyxiation,” said Anas Gaafar, governor of Beni Suef which lies about 150 kilometres south of Cairo.The performance was part of an experimental theatre festival that brought together actors from the Mediterranean cities of Port Said and Alexandria.Firefighters rescued some 60 people and local health officials mobilised 25 ambulances to evacuate the injured.- Nampa-AFP