A helium cylinder exploded inside a gift shop at a busy shopping mall in New Cairo, Egypt, Thursday evening, killing at least three people and injuring 17 others in a sudden and horrific blast that sent smoke and panic through the complex.
Video footage circulating online captures the terrifying aftermath: thick smoke filling the atrium of Arabella Plaza Mall, debris scattered across the floor, people scrambling down escalators and stairs, and injured victims lying on the ground as bystanders rush to help. The scenes are graphic, showing blood and chaos in the moments following the explosion.
Egyptian officials confirmed the blast occurred on the ground floor of the mall in the Fifth Settlement area. A pressurized helium cylinder used for inflating balloons in a gift and toy shop ruptured, triggering a limited fire that civil defense teams quickly brought under control. The explosion also damaged the facades of several neighboring stores.
Egypt’s Health Ministry said eight ambulances responded to the scene. Eleven of the injured were taken to New Cairo Specialized Hospital, while six others were transferred to nearby facilities. Authorities continue to monitor the condition of the wounded.
The Interior Ministry pushed back against early social media claims that an elevator had collapsed, clarifying that the damage and casualties resulted directly from the helium cylinder explosion. Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the exact cause and circumstances of the incident.
Helium is a non-flammable gas commonly stocked by party and gift shops, making the force of the blast particularly startling. Officials have not yet released the names of the victims or further details on what led the cylinder to fail.
The tragedy comes amid heightened attention to safety in public spaces, as emergency crews and investigators work to determine how a routine store item turned deadly in the middle of a crowded mall. More updates are expected as the probe continues.
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