An urgent “antiquities” committee inspects the Al-Azhar mosque fire

Dr. Osama Talaat, Head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Sector of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, confirmed the safety of the Al-Azhar Mosque and its archaeological annexes after the fire that broke out in the western part of the upper floor above Bab Al-Saʻidah to the Al-Batinah area.

“Talat” said in remarks on Wednesday night that an archaeological committee headed by Ahmed Abu Bakr, Vice President of the Sector, immediately went to the site of the fire to find out the damage to the Al-Azhar Mosque, as it was evident, by apparent inspection, that there was no damage to the building, inscriptions, decorations or wooden furniture. Where the fire was started as a result of a short circuit in one of the lighting lamps in the room, which is used to store some furniture to run the mosque.

Cairo Civil Protection had received a report this Wednesday afternoon stating that a fire had broken out in the Al-Azhar mosque and that several firefighting vehicles had been paid to control the fire.
A security source confirmed that a limited fire was controlled in one of the rooms attached to the second floor of the Al-Azhar mosque, with no injuries or damage.

The Al-Azhar Mosque was inaugurated in 2018, after witnessing the largest restoration process in its history lasting approximately 3 full years, through a grant from the late Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of £ 30 million, which It began in late 2014 after the Endowments Ministry turned it over in favor of Al-Azhar Sheikhdom.