Cairo blaze killed 31

A fire in a theatre on late Monday in south of Cairo killed 31 people and left 64 injured, including 18 in serious condition, interior ministry and police sources said on Tuesday.

As Pravda.ru reported earlier, the fire in the city of Beni Suef, 150 km south of Cairo, started from a burning candle used by one of the actors during a live performance. The candle fell on the wooden floor of the stage and ignited parts of the dйcor, Hindustan Times says.

Panic among fleeing theatre-goers led to additional casualties as people were trampled upon.

Police sources said an investigation into the fire had been launched and the ministers of health, culture and social affairs had visited the city. A medical team was sent by plane to help treat the injured.