A fire broke out this morning (Sunday) in Abu Sefein al-Munarah Church in Giza governorate, killing 41 people, including the church’s priest, and injuring 14 others, including two officers and 3 members of the civil protection forces, according to the statements of the Egyptian Ministry of Interior and the Egyptian Church.
The competent authorities are initiating the fire
In the same context, the Egyptian Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, said that the Ministry of Health sent 30 ambulances to the site of the fire, while 55 cases were transferred to hospitals (Imbaba General and Agouza), and the injured cases are being dealt with, as well as the death cases.
Abdel Ghaffar pointed to raising the state of readiness in the hospitals in Giza and Cairo governorates, pointing out that all blood types and emergency medicines were available in all hospitals that received the injured.
A malfunction in the air conditioning caused the fire
The Egyptian Ministry of Interior said that an examination of the forensic evidence showed that the fire broke out in the air-conditioning of the second floor of the church building, which includes a number of classrooms, as a result of an electrical fault, and this led to the emission of a thick amount of smoke that was the main cause of injuries and deaths.
Two security sources told Archyde.com that the fire broke out as a result of a short circuit in the church’s electricity generator, and led to a stampede of worshipers, whose number exceeded five thousand.
They added that the fire was blocking the exit door from the prayer hall, which led to the charring of some bodies, and the two sources said that the majority of the dead were children.
Stampede and charred corpses
Eyewitnesses told Archyde.com that most of the worshipers were on the third and fourth floors, and they rushed to get down from the stairs, and they fell on top of each other, after which a crackling sound and electric sparks were heard, and flames rose from all the windows.
They added that the bodies were all charred, many of them children, who were present in the nursery room in the church.
Prosecution opens an investigation
In turn, the Egyptian Public Prosecutor ordered the formation of a team to investigate the fire and determine its causes, as the team immediately moved to inspect the site of the accident and start investigation procedures, and the Egyptian Public Prosecution will announce the results whenever possible.
Eyewitnesses at the scene of the accident, according to Egyptian media, indicated that most of the victims were children, due to the presence of a nursery inside the church, stressing that the fire broke out on the third and fourth floors.
Al-Sisi offers condolences to the Pope
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi confirmed that he is closely following the developments of the tragic accident, which occurred in Abu Sefein Church, adding that he directed state agencies and institutions to take the necessary measures in dealing with this incident, and direct all means of support and care to the families of the victims and the injured.
Al-Sisi offered his sincere condolences to the families of the victims, whom he described as innocent people who moved to the side of their Lord in one of the homes in which they worship Him.
Later, Sisi offered his condolences and sympathy to the Coptic Pope, Pope Tawadros II, during a phone call, stressing that he is personally following the developments of the accident and the condition of the injured.
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