Huge fire in agricultural areas of Siwa Oasis A huge fire broke out on Tuesday in an olive grove in the Mashandat area, 15 km west of the Siwa Oasis in the Egypt’s Western Desert. No casualties were reported so far. Eyewitnesses said the fire came close to the village houses.
Three armed forces fire engines and four other from the Civil Protection Authority extinguished the fire, while more headed in to save the area.
Commander of the western military region in Egypt, Major General Medhat Al-Nahas, told state television that the armed forces sent a C-130 plane and a number of helicopters carrying equipment to help put out the huge fire that broke out in Siwa and devoured 50 acres of arable land.
State-run newspaper Al-Ahram\'s website said that the security services of the Matrouh governorate evacuated the villages of Taaouny and Mashandat that were close to the fire.
Marsa Matrouh Governor Mohamed Taha said no casualties were reported so far. “However, we put the Siwa general hospital and the military hospital on high alert,” he said.