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A recent spate of fires across Egypt has prompted many theories of arson perpetrated by "hidden hands", Islamists and/or the government.

Authorities have received around 100 reports over the past week of fires in the capital Cairo alone, where such accidents are relatively common, but nowhere near this scale of destruction.

On Monday, a massive fire engulfed a hotel and several nearby buildings in a busy commercial area in downtown Cairo, killing at least three people and wounding 91 others.

"These fires cannot be preordained by God or be the result of electrical faults as has been reported. The strength and speed of the blaze show that hidden hands must be behind the incidents," Khalid Hassan, head of a local business cooperative, told a parliamentary committee during a session discussing the fires.

Two shop-owners in downtown Cairo have claimed to have seen masked men during a fire in Cairo, who according to them "carried out an arson attack".

Two shop-owners in downtown Cairo have claimed to have seen masked men during a fire in Cairo

Local media has that two men were arrested on suspicions of causing the fire.

Others affected by the fires have blamed fire brigades of not responding fast enough, local authorities of allowing substandard health and safety regulations and even accused the banned Muslim Brotherhood of causing them.

Social media users in Egypt have offered their two cents on the wave of fires across the country, using the Arabic language hashtag .

Translation: "It's as if someone has invoked God to burn this country. What's with all these fires. God, please be kind to us."

Translation: "There have been no fires so far today. It's Friday the secret service have the day off."