😔 A huge fire ripped through a clothing factory in Egypt's Gharbia Governorate on Friday, leaving at least seven workers dead and 30 injured, local authorities confirmed.
The blaze started in the early afternoon at a multi-story garment manufacturing site that supplies apparel for global brands. Firefighters raced to the scene, but dense smoke and locked exits hampered rescue efforts, officials said.
Here's the lowdown on what happened:
- Casualties: Seven workers lost their lives, and 30 were rushed to nearby hospitals with burn injuries and smoke inhalation.
- Emergency response: Local fire brigades arrived within 10 minutes but faced challenges due to narrow lanes and safety lapses in the building design.
- Investigation on the way: Authorities are probing potential violations of fire-safety rules, like blocked emergency exits and faulty wiring.
For many in South Asia, this sparks memories of the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, where garment-factory safety was in the spotlight. 🙏 Both incidents underline the urgent need for stricter safety checks and worker protections across the global supply chain.
As fashion brands increasingly rely on factories from North Africa to Southeast Asia, ensuring safe work conditions isn't just a compliance box—it's a moral imperative. 🛑
Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. Stay tuned for updates as the investigation unfolds.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
