Antiquities Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Ali said that the museum and archeological site at Meet Rahina, south of Cairo, are completely safe and are far from the site of a fire that broke out on Saturday evening in trees in the area. The minister stressed that he has been following up on the incident since the fire broke out. He said plants around the archeological area are being removed in coordination with Giza Governorate. They also aim to make the best use of the area and develop it as a tourist site with great importance to the history of civilization. Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mohsen Sayed Ali said that there is a sophisticated plan to protect archaeological areas against fire and theft that is being developed in accordance with circumstances on the ground. Osama al-Shimi, the director general of Giza Antiquities Department, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the fire broke out in an agricultural area behind the museum, but firefighters were able to control the fire in a short time and the museum was not damaged. He added that grass grows on the banks of the canal in the area, and a spark can quickly start a fire. A fire had broken out on Saturday evening in piles of grass near the archaeological area. The blaze was controlled by civil protection forces and fire fighters. Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
