At least six people have been injured in the fire that broke out Saturday evening in the Egyptian National Theater in downtown Cairo, the state MENA news agency reported.

At least six people have been injured in the fire that broke out Saturday evening in the Egyptian National Theater in downtown Cairo, the state MENA news agency reported.

Four of the injured, including two policeman, a firefighter and a theater worker, were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment and the other two firemen were receiving treatment at the scene, head of the emergency services at the Health Ministry Mohamed Sultan said.

The huge fire, which was under control, occurred at about 5:45 p.m. local time (1545 GMT) in the main hall of the theater, reported the Egyptian Nile TV news channel.

Egyptian Culture Minister Farouq Hosni arrived at the scene after hearing about the incident, said the report, adding the fire was probably caused by a short circuit.

The stage curtain caught fire first just ten minutes before the Iftar (fasting breaking meal in the holy fasting month of Ramadan),Deputy Interior Minister Major General Sherif Gomaa told MENA.

On August 19, a fire broke out in the building of the Egyptian Shura Council (upper house of the parliament), also in downtown Cairo.

The parliament building was devastated in the fire, which also caused the death of one fireman and injured at least 15 others.

VietNamNet/Xinhanuet