CAIRO: Tragedy struck Cairo on Monday as a five-story residential building collapsed, resulting in the loss of at least nine lives, according to the Cairo Security Directorate. Rescue workers are currently engaged in a painstaking search through the rubble, hoping to find survivors amidst the devastation.
The incident occurred in the Makkawi area of the Hadayek El-Kobba neighborhood, located north of central Cairo. This densely populated area is characterized by informal housing structures. The collapse jolted residents awake, who were met with the distressing sounds of screams from passersby.
Civil Protection and police officers swiftly responded to the scene, accompanied by ambulance crews and specialized equipment to aid in the search and rubble removal. Initial assessments of the site revealed that unauthorized expansion work had been taking place on the first floor of the building in violation of building regulations. It is believed that the demolition of a load-bearing internal wall during these renovations contributed to the catastrophic collapse.
Investigation into Cairo Building Incident
Cairo Governor Khaled Abdel Aal announced the formation of an engineering committee to investigate the incident thoroughly. As a precautionary measure, neighboring buildings were evacuated, and their gas and electricity supplies were disconnected until the rescue operation concludes and the rubble is cleared. The Public Prosecution is currently gathering statements from eyewitnesses.
Nivine El-Kabbag, the Minister of Social Solidarity, authorized the disbursement of 60,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,940) to the families of the deceased, along with urgent assistance for the injured. Minister of Local Development Hisham Amna is closely monitoring the response efforts, coordinating with government agencies, facilities, and emergency services to facilitate the rescue operation and ensure the swift removal of debris.
This tragic incident follows another building collapse that occurred a day earlier in the city of Rashid (Rosetta), claiming the lives of a 10-month-old baby and a 38-year-old man while injuring 13 others. Egypt has witnessed previous incidents of building collapses, underscoring the urgent need for stricter enforcement of building regulations and enhanced safety measures to prevent such catastrophic events in the future.
