Big fire hits Nile River cruising restaurant in Egypt's capital

A cruise on the Nile River is seen on fire in Cairo, Egypt, March 7, 2019. A massive fire engulfed a cruising restaurant overlooking the Nile River on Thursday evening in Maadi district in the Egyptian capital Cairo. (Xinhua/Meng Tao)

A massive fire engulfed a three-storey cruising restaurant overlooking the Nile River on Thursday evening in Maadi district in the Egyptian capital Cairo, eyewitnesses told Xinhua.

Several firefighting vehicles were running back and forth at the scene where flames and clouds of smoke were rising out of the cruise, they said.

"The massive fire hit River Pioneers cruise and no casualties have been seen so far," an eyewitness said.

A medic told Xinhua that only three people suffered suffocation but they were fine after receiving first aid.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.