An Egyptian mission discovered that the cause of the phenomenon was the presence of high-temperature gas emissions from the lower layers rich in flammable organic materials, which interact with the groundwater that contains the element sulfur and exit through separators in the soil layers in the form of fumes loaded with sulfur and oxides, according to Egyptian media.

The local authorities issued a statement to reassure residents that the phenomenon is not dangerous, or that there is a cause for concern, pointing out that there are no evidences of volcanic flows in the area, and that ignition occurs near the surface of the earth.