Fire erupts at Cairo power plant; 20 fire trucks to the scene

CAIRO – A top civil defense official says a massive fire has erupted at a power plant in northern Cairo, requiring 20 fire trucks to put it out.

Police Maj. Gen. Gamal Halawa said by telephone that Thursday's fire is now under control. The fire, he says, was caused by an explosion at a generator unit.

Officials at the power station say the fire was caused by a "technical failure" and that an investigation into the incident was underway. They do not suspect foul play.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists.

Egypt has been beset by power outages that grew more frequent during the summer. Authorities say the outages are caused by poor maintenance and sabotage by supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi.