Twelve injured after an explosion at a chemical plant near Cairo airport

(dpa / afp / Reuters) A spokesman for the Egyptian forces overthrows the blast at high temperatures and excludes a terrorist attack Chemiefabrik shook Cairo airport and parts of the Egyptian capital Thursday night. Twelve people were reportedly injured and taken to hospital.

Due to high temperatures, an explosion occurred in a warehouse of Heliopolis Chemical Industries, immediately adjacent to the airport. This was announced by the spokesman of the Egyptian armed forces shortly after the accident. He also ruled out a terrorist attack on local media.

Rescue teams in the field following a major explosion at a chemical plant in the immediate vicinity of Cairo airport in the early hours of 13 July. (Photo: Mohamed Hossam / EPA)

The Minister of Civil Aviation pointed out that the explosion occurred outside the airport itself. Flight operations were not affected. First, there have been reports of an explosion on a fuel tank on the outside of the airport.

The MENA region reported that the wounded had been taken to the hospital, citing security personnel. The severity of their injuries is not yet known. The initial reports initially mentioned two security personnel injured near the blast site.

Photos and videos shared on social media showed a huge plume of smoke on the Egyptian capital and high flames. After the explosion, several fire trucks and ambulances ran directly to the scene of the accident east of the airport.