CAIRO: A thirteen-storey building in Egypt’s northern city of Alexandria, often used to house holidaymakers during the summer months, has collapsed, leaving several people trapped under the rubble. The catastrophic collapse occurred on Monday morning, accompanied by clouds of smoke rising from the site.
The exact number of individuals buried beneath the debris is currently unknown. Civil defense first responders swiftly arrived at the scene in the Sidi Bishr district, where the 13-storey building had crumbled. Rescue teams are currently engaged in a search operation to locate survivors and clear away the wreckage. Several cars were reported to have crashed into the rubble, adding to the complexity of the rescue efforts.
Casualties from Building Collapse in Egypt
Municipal officials have yet to provide an official count of casualties. Alexandria state governor, Muhammad al-Sharif, described the building’s collapse as a result of a “vertical split.” The governor mentioned that the building was commonly rented out to holidaymakers during the summer season and housed a supermarket on one of its ground floors.
Al-Sharif further revealed that prior to the collapse, the top floor had been removed due to concerns about its stability. Eyewitnesses in the area reported hearing an explosion before the building gave way.
Authorities are now focused on the rescue operation, working tirelessly to locate and save those trapped under the rubble. Further updates on casualties and the overall impact of the collapse are awaited as rescue efforts continue.
