A hearth ripped by means of a church in a densely populated neighbourhood of the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Sunday, leaving no less than 41 useless and injuring 14, the nation’s Coptic Church stated.
The reason for the blaze, which produced big quantities of smoke within the Abu Sefein church within the working-class neighbourhood of Imbaba, was not instantly identified. An preliminary investigation pointed to {an electrical} short-circuit, based on a police assertion.
The Coptic Church reported the casualty toll, citing well being officers. It stated the hearth broke out whereas a service was underway Sunday morning.
Fifteen firefighting automobiles had been dispatched to the scene to place out the flames whereas ambulances ferried the casualties to close by hospitals.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi spoke by telephone with the Coptic Christian Pope Tawadros II to supply his condolences, the president’s workplace stated.
“I’m carefully following the developments of the tragic accident,” el-Sisi wrote on Fb. “I directed all involved state companies and establishments to take all mandatory measures, and instantly to cope with this accident and its results.”
The Inside Ministry stated it acquired a report on the hearth at 9 a.m. native time, and that they discovered that the blaze broke out in an air conditioner within the constructing’s second storey.
The ministry, which oversees police and firefighters, blamed {an electrical} short-circuit for the hearth, which produced big quantities of smoke.
The nation’s chief prosecutor, Hamada el-Sawy, ordered an investigation and a staff of prosecutors was dispatched to the church.
Egypt’s Christians account for some 10 per cent of the nation’s 90 million folks and have lengthy complained of discrimination by the nation’s Muslim majority.
Sunday’s blaze was one of many worst hearth tragedies lately in a rustic the place security requirements and hearth rules are poorly enforced. In March final 12 months, a fireplace at a garment manufacturing unit close to Cairo killed no less than 20 folks and injured 24 extra.
