At least 25 people died in the fire, with 22 more workers suffering from burns and smoke inhalation, a health ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

The blaze ravaged the three-storey building and its warehouse in el Obour, on the outskirts of Egypts' capital. The fire started after a gas container blew up inside an elevator, security officials said.

Dozens of fire trucks were reported at the scene, with army helicopters also combating the blaze.

The furniture factory did not have safety clearances, according to source quoted by the state-run Middle East News Agency (MENA).

Accidents such as this are relatively common in Egypt, with many of the country's factories falling short of the proscribed safety standards.

dj/kms (AFP, Reuters,dpa)