Last update 9 hours ago
The effects of the fire are visible on the “Abu Sefein” church in the Imbaba neighborhood in Giza governorate.
The Egyptian authorities announced the death of 41 people and the injury of 16 others in a massive fire that broke out on Sunday morning in the “Abu Sefein” church in the Imbaba district of Giza, west of Cairo.
The Egyptian Public Prosecution said in a statement following examining the scene of the accident that the injured were 16 people, including three policemen, and that it had finished taking the testimonies of 14 injured, whose health condition allowed that.
The statement quoted eyewitnesses at the scene of the accident that the cause of the fire was an electrical short-circuit with a device for generating electricity.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health said in a tweet on Twitter that it had sent 30 ambulances to the scene.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesman for the Ministry of Health, confirmed that two of the injured were discharged, and there were 4 unstable cases, which decreased to one unstable case, as for the rest of the cases, their health condition is stable.
He added, in televised statements, that in the coming hours, a larger number of injured will be discharged from the hospital and in the early morning.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health indicated that there are 12 injured, including 7 in Imbaba General Hospital and 5 in Agouza Hospital.
In an official statement, the Egyptian Ministry of Interior confirmed the prosecution’s findings and said that the fire was “caused by an electrical malfunction in the air conditioning units on the second floor of the church.”
smoke is the cause of death
An examination of forensic evidence revealed that the fire broke out in an air-conditioning device on the second floor of the church building, which includes a number of classrooms, as a result of an electrical fault.
“People were gathering on the third and fourth floors and we saw smoke rising from the second floor. People rushed down the stairs and fell on top of each other,” said Yasser Munir, a worshiper at the church.
“Then we heard a spark and fire coming from the window,” he added, adding that he and his daughter were on the ground floor and might escape.
photo released, Archyde.com
An amount of 100,000 pounds will be disbursed to the family of each victim, and an amount of up to 20,000 pounds will be disbursed to each injured person
And Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly moved to the church website, and Madbouly said that the government is doing its best to provide all forms of support to the injured and the families of the victims.
The Prime Minister offered condolences to the families of the victims of the tragic accident, and wished a speedy recovery for the injured, saying: “All support to the families of the victims, as well as the injured… We will not leave you unless you are healthy.”
Madbouly added that it was decided immediately, in coordination with the Minister of Social Solidarity, to disburse 100,000 pounds to the family of each victim, and an amount of up to 20,000 pounds will be disbursed to each injured, according to the degree of his injury.
He stressed the provision of various aspects of care for the injured and the families of the victims in the coming period, through many aspects of in-kind support that will be provided to them.
Madbouly also praised the efforts made by the civil defense forces to contain the fire and save people.
The Prime Minister had earlier visited the injured, who were transferred to two hospitals in Giza for treatment.
And the Ministry of Interior announced in a statement on Facebook that two officers and three members of the Civil Defense were injured during the firefighting operation.
funeral prayers
The Egyptian Orthodox Church said in a statement that the funeral services for those killed in the fire that afflicted the Abu Sefein Church in the Imbaba area will be held once the permits for burial of the bodies expire.
The statement stated that the funerals will be held in the ancient Church of the Virgin in Warraq and the Church of the Virgin and Archangel Michael in Warraq.
Sources told Archyde.com news agency that 5,000 people were attending Sunday mass inside the church, which caused a huge stampede among the people who were trying to escape.
The forces of the General Administration of Civil Protection in Giza managed to control the large fire, according to the authorities.
photo released, Social Media
Remnants of the fire from inside the church.
The firefighters start cooling operations to ensure that the fire does not flare up once more, especially with the church containing a large amount of wood on one side, and high temperatures on the other.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in a Facebook post that he was “closely following the tragic incident.”
He added that he had issued orders “to the concerned authorities to take all necessary measures to deal immediately with the incident.”
Sisi also made a phone call to Tawadros II, Pope of the Orthodox Church, to offer condolences.
The Egyptian Public Prosecution said it had opened an investigation into the accident and had sent a team to the scene to find out the causes of the fire.