Egypt’s firefighters battle blaze to save Cairo’s historic district

Authorities said they were able to put out the fire before it spread to important historical sites

Firefighters in Cairo battled through the night to control a large blaze in the city's historic quarter and prevent it spreading to important cultural sites.

Flames filled the sky over Old Cairo near the historic Mosque of Al Hussein, close to the tourist area of Khan El Khalili.

At least one apartment was destroyed and footage on state media showed emergency workers rescuing residents from the burning building.

Fire crews were called out to a building of the Religious Endowments Ministry.

It was still unclear what sparked the fire, but witnesses said it was caused by a gas cylinder explosion. There was no information on casualties.

Liquefied petroleum gas, supplied in cylinders, is the main fuel for cooking and heating in many Egyptian households.

The building is in the vicinity of the famous bazaar known as Khan El Khalili.

Khaled Salaheldin, a senior official at the Religious Endowments authority in Cairo, told the government-run Al Ahram newspaper that the fire was limited to one building.

“The historical area and Al Hussein mosque are completely intact,” he said.

“The brave firefighters have painstakingly worked to extinguish the fire and rescue trapped residents.”

Al Hussein Mosque and mausoleum dates back to 1154. Shiite Muslims believe that the head of Al Hussein ibn Ali, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, is buried there.