Explosion injures 12 near Cairo airport

A chemicals factory has exploded outside Cairo's main airport injuring 12 people with an army spokesman saying the blast was brought on by high temperatures.

Egyptian firefighters have worked to bring the fire under control after a petrochemical storage facility exploded in the capital city's north on Thursday night.

State news agency MENA says 12 people have been taken to hospital with injuries, quoting a security source.

The minister of civil aviation, Younis al-Masri, said air traffic at the airport was unaffected by the explosion, which could be heard across the area.