The Zawya El-Hamra Misdemeanor Appeals Court postponed the appeal filed by the defendants in the Zawya El-Hamra clothing factory fire case, which resulted in the deaths of seven young women, until October 27.
The Zawya El-Hamra Misdemeanor Court had previously sentenced the first defendant to 10 years in prison and the second and third defendants to two years each. The court also referred the civil lawsuit to the competent civil court.
Prosecution Investigations into the Factory Fire
Prosecution investigations found that the defendant admitted managing the storage facility without a license and failing to take the required precautions and safety measures to prevent fire risks.
The investigations also addressed the absence of occupational health and safety measures for the workers.
According to the defendant’s statement, the facility was used to store supplies and raw materials related to footwear manufacturing. It consisted of a ground floor and three upper floors.
The workers were present on the first floor, while the ground floor was used to store materials used in footwear production. The second and third floors were used to store goods.
The defendant also stated that the workers were employed on a daily basis and received weekly wages, without social or health insurance coverage.
Defendant’s Account of the Fire
According to the defendant’s statement during the investigation, the fire broke out on April 14, 2026, at around 12:15 p.m., while he was at home.
He said he received a phone call from his son informing him that a fire had broken out inside the storage facility.
The defendant went to the scene, where three female workers managed to escape. Seven other young women remained on the first floor and were unable to descend because the fire had spread near the exit door and there was no other way out of the building.
He stated that he left the scene after seeing the flames, explaining that he was unable to control his emotions because of the shock.
He later returned to the police station after learning that the seven women had died and surrendered to the authorities.
Investigations into the Cause of the Fire
Police investigations found no criminal suspicion surrounding the incident and concluded that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit involving makeshift electrical connections.
The investigations also identified those responsible for managing the facility as “Sabry A.,” “Yasser H.,” and “Shawky M.”
When confronted with the investigation findings, the defendant stated that Yasser and Shawky worked as supervisors at the factory and storage facility. He denied that they were business partners and maintained that he was the owner of the factory and storage facility.
Details of the Zawya El-Hamra Factory Fire
The incident began when emergency services received a report of a fire inside a storage facility in the Zawya El-Hamra area.
Civil Protection forces immediately responded to the scene with several firefighting vehicles. They managed to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to neighboring locations.
The fire resulted in the deaths of seven young women and injuries to others. The injured were transported to hospital for the necessary medical treatment.
Police investigators also heard statements from eyewitnesses to determine the circumstances and causes of the fire. The relevant authorities were notified to conduct the necessary investigations before the defendants were referred to trial.
When will the appeal hearing take place?
The court postponed the appeal hearing until October 27.
How many people died in the factory fire?
Seven young women died in the fire, while others were injured.
What sentences were initially issued?
The first defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while the second and third defendants received two-year sentences.
What was identified as the cause of the fire?
Police investigations attributed the fire to an electrical short circuit involving makeshift electrical connections.
What happened to the civil lawsuit?
The court referred the civil lawsuit to the competent civil court.
