Cairo’s 70-Year-Old Sayeda Zeinab Market Engulfed by Massive Blaze, Prompting Questions on Urban Safety Measures
In a tragic development, a historic commercial market in the Sayeda Zeinab district of Cairo was swallowed by an immense fire on Tuesday. Local authorities have confirmed that tens of shops and kiosks were affected, with significant material loss amounting to millions of Egyptian pounds. Human injuries remained minimal, with a few instances of minor smoke inhalation reported.
The fire of Sayyida Zeinab destroyed dozens of shops and kiosks-Image Source: X
This comes within 24 hours of another devastating blaze that consumed the administrative building of the Ismailia Governorate’s Security Directorate in Eastern Egypt, injuring dozens. The timing raises concerns about Egypt’s preparedness and safety measures for public spaces.
Civil Defense Forces managed to extinguish the fire that erupted in the 70-year-old market located adjacent to the Sayeda Zeinab mosque. The market, locally known as “El Meida,” primarily deals in clothing and household necessities. No damage to the adjacent mosque was reported.
الأن حريق هائل بجوار مسجد السيده زينب
سياسه الأرض المحروقه اللي بيستخدمها الصهيوني
الظاهر الترمدول عامل شغل عالى أوى pic.twitter.com/k2GDgwxhSt— عصام (@Q1Ud8iCqzNOuDkr) October 3, 2023
🛑النيابة: حريق سوق السيدة زينب تسبب في خسائر تقدر بالملايين
ورئيس الحي: لم تقع إصابات pic.twitter.com/vFlPGdf5AZ— Shorouk News (@Shorouk_News) October 3, 2023
انقاذ مسجد السيدة زينب من حريق مروع بعد احتراق 30 باكية وفرش للباعهhttps://t.co/6UxAqecca4 pic.twitter.com/q1hLJyyh6k
— الأهرام AlAhram (@AlAhram) October 3, 2023
According to Hisham Abu Al Makarem, the head of the Sayeda Zeinab district, the market consists of vendors stationed around the mosque with additional kiosks displaying various merchandise. Due to the flammable nature of many goods, the fire quickly consumed most of the market. Al Makarem added that relocating the market is not within his jurisdiction and will be decided by higher authorities.
As investigations by the Public Prosecution and forensic labs are underway to ascertain the cause of the fire, the events are raising questions about safety standards and regulations surrounding commercial markets in the city. This incident draws attention to the pressing need for stringent safety measures and advanced infrastructure to prevent such disasters in the future.
For now, the community awaits answers, both about the source of the fire and the future of a market that has been a staple in Cairo for seven decades.
