CAIRO, May 9 (Aswat Masriya) – The number of injuries resulting from a fire that erupted in the crowded Cairo neighbourhood of al-Ataba late Sunday has risen to 74, the health ministry said.

The ministry declared in a statement earlier on Monday the number of injuries to have been 45.

The fire broke out late at night on Sunday in a six-storey hotel located in al-Ataba, a famous area in downtown Cairo known for its big market and crowdedness. 

The hotel was evacuated once the fire erupted, but the fire spread to another building, which is adjacent to the hotel. 

Most of the injuries resulted from asphyxiation, the Ministry of Health spokesman Khaled Mogahed added in the statement.

A state television correspondent said that the fire also reached eleven shops in the area.

Civil Protection forces brought the fire under control and have now started cooling down the site of the fire, according to Akhbar Masr, the website of Egyptian state television.

The prosecution is currently investigating the cause of the fire and whether there is a criminal motive.  

The military also sent a number of its fire engines to assist with extinguishing the fire.