CAIRO — A number of massive fires have erupted since May 9 in various areas of Cairo and other provinces, destroying popular markets, residential properties, public facilities, government buildings and agricultural land. The state has yet to officially announce a clear reason for the fires, which have led to a state of public anger among citizens, particularly those affected by the blazes.
In the Ataba district of central Cairo, which is home to the largest popular market frequented by thousands of shoppers on a daily basis, a fire broke out May 9 and burned down more than 250 stores and commercial warehouses. This was followed by another fire in al-Ghoria, a commercial district of the capital considered to be the heart of Cairo. Other blazes shortly followed that affected a Cairo governorate building, the Ministry of Interior, the faculty of sciences at Cairo University, the Cinema Institute and a school in the Doqqi neighborhood. These fires brought back memories of the Cairo fire of January 1952, which was the initial spark for the July 1952 Revolution that ended the rule of King Farouk.
