Three huge fires broke out late Tuesday in Sohag Governorate in the areas of Juhayna, Gerga and Maragha, a security source said. Preliminary investigations blamed two of the blasts on sparks flying from bakeries located in people's homes, while the third was blamed on an electrical short circuit. The fires injured three people and burned 42 houses and 150 palm trees. Also, 107 cattle and sheep were killed, the source said. Civil defense forces were able to put out the fires using 26 fire engines. The prosecution was notified to start investigations. Meanwhile, Sohag Governor Waddah Hamzawy decided to form a committee at the Social Solidarity Ministry to inspect the causes of the three blasts, as well as count losses to compensate the victims. Hamzawy also decided to form an committee of veterinarians to count total number of deceased cattle and bury them in a hygienic way. The source said one of the fires started at a village in Juhayna center. It started when sparks flew out of a bakery inside someone's house. Fire then spread to the palm trees next to the house, reaching another 24 neighboring houses. Nineteen fire engines were able to extinguish the fire in almost 12 hours. In Gerga, another fire erupted in the Beit Allam village for the same reason. Four fire engines were used to extinguish the fire, which gutted the contents of 12 houses. In Maragha, the third fire started at Fazara village inside one of the citizens' houses and extended to five neighboring houses. Translated from the Arabic Edition
