Downtown's inferno

Hello folks

What's the latest? Thanks for all the emails, and sorry I haven't replied to them. I've been using the Internet much less this past week, hence the late update. I'll try and get round to writing again soon, though.

I think you might be interested in something I saw recently - a fire. A big one. Perhaps the biggest in Cairo that week. It wasn't just the fact that a major incident had happened in the heart of the city, just few minute's walk from our hostel, but also the fire service's and Cairenes' response to the spectacle. Some of the description may sound like a desperate tragicomedy but it all happened and it was such a unique series of events that I don't think I'll ever forget it.

Following the completion of our hospital training for the day, I was just getting back to my residence with two friends when we noticed a car being frantically pushed down the road by a policeman and ten other helpers. Then suddenly people started swarming to one of the streets branching off from the main roundabout, and for the first time since I came here Midan Talat'Harb was devoid of people. Medics are generally an inquisitive bunch, especially if morbid events are concerned, and after dropping off our bags, three of us ran to investigate and to offer any assistance we were capable of. By this time fire engines were on the way and there were around five hundred spectators already on the scene, looking up at the fourth floor of a bank. It was billowing acrid black smoke and dark orange flames were just starting to appear behind the windows. The fire must have started a while ago, however, as the building had already been evacuated and was sealed off by a wall of policemen. Then the blaze erupted, though, and the officers began to push the crowd away to make way for the emergency services. Only the people didn't want to go. Eventually, we were all shoved back to a large petrol station forecourt on the opposite side of the road, just as lots of ash from the charred remains of part of the building began to fall softly down. We could smell the smoke mingle with the petrol, and we had quite a scary next half an hour.

The fire was still spreading all along the roof, but it was still a while before all the fire trucks had their equipment ready. First of all they found that their water pressure wasn't high enough, and only the outside of the building was being doused. Then for some crazy crazy reason the fireman that was winched up to the fourth floor with a high-pressure hosepipe had only his regular clothes on (casual shirt and jeans), whilst his colleagues down below were dressed in full fireproof attire. Anyway, the man slowly started to get the first under control, but by then much of the building was already completely gutted and chunks of plasterwork were falling down, making the area unsafe. So the riot police were called, complete with shields and batons, and they stormed the forecourt and the surrounding area to get people to leave. With the flames seemingly under control most people were happy to do so, except some guys who had somehow managed to get onto the roof of the petrol station and were relaxing on deckchairs whilst watching things unfold. Unbelievable.

Anyway, the events were detailed on the news that night, and it's suspected that the cause of the inferno was an electrical short switch. The building is in a very unstable condition now and there is a danger that it might collapse. The whole complex and part of the side and main streets running beside it had been cordoned off, and this was still in place when I walked past the site again last night. Thankfully no people were hurt and all smoke inhalational injuries were minor.

Things are back to normal in the downtown district now, but the scenes towards the end were quite grave, and everyone in the area was a bit subdued for the next few days.

So please, take care of yourselves, and make sure you have a working smoke alarm!

Moc