Maghreb Edition

Egypt: Six girls killed in fire at detention center in Cairo’s Al-Marg districtF

Posted On 4 June 2021

Number of times this article was read : 656

Six teenage girls were killed and 19 others injured in a fire at a juvenile detention centre in the Egyptian capital, officials said Friday. The blaze broke out late Thursday at the building in Al-Marg district on Cairo’s northeastern outskirts, a security official told AFP. The head of the facility, which houses around 200 girls aged between 14 and 17, was immediately detained, the official said, without elaborating. The fire, reportedly confined to one wing of the detention facility, was brought under control by civil defence workers. Prosecutors opened an investigation into the cause of the fire by questioning survivors, a judicial source said. The remains of those who died were handed over to their families. Deadly fires are a common hasard in Egypt, where many buildings are dilapidated and poorly maintained. In March, at least 20 people died in a fire at a textile factory east of Cairo. Seven patients

AFP

Subscribe to Urgent Notifications and Newsletter

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Morocco Becomes Africa’s Top-Ranked Industrial Economy$

Morocco has become Africa’s leading industrial economy, followed by South Africa and Egypt. The African Development Bank (AfDB) ranked Tunisia fourth, reinforcing North Africa’s position as one of the continent’s principal industrial regions. The AfDB’s 2025 Africa Industrialization Index placed Morocco ahead of South Africa as Africa’s highest-ranked industrial economy.

Algerian Gas Exports to Europe Rise for Fourth Consecutive Month$

Algeria continued to expand natural gas exports to Europe during the first four months of 2026, benefiting from steady pipeline deliveries to key markets including Spain and Italy. While Europe’s gas market continues shifting toward LNG imports, Algeria has maintained its position as one of the continent’s leading pipeline suppliers through a combination of established infrastructure, long-term contracts, and growing LNG activity.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.