Three floors of a five storey building in downtown Cairo’s Qasr Al-Nil Street collapsed, on Saturday. A total of 18 people have been rescued so far, of whom two were transferred to the Ahmed Maher Hospital and two others received medical care on the spot, according to the Cairo governorate authorities.
No deaths have been reported so far, while search operations are ongoing for three people who may still be under the rubble of the collapsed building.
The building was located on an area of 1,500 sqm, and mainly includes administrative and commercial offices, a money exchange company, and a closed furniture showroom.
The Qasr Al-Nil Prosecution initiated an investigation into the incident and ordered the formation of an engineering committee to examine the causes of the collapse.
Security services interrogated eyewitnesses and the residents of the collapsed building, and summoned the owner of the building for questioning.
Two families living in the now collapsed building were ordered to be accommodated temporarily in two housing units at the Al-Asmarat housing project, according to Extra News.
Security services have evacuated three buildings adjacent to the collapsed building, for the safety of their residents.
A security cordon has been imposed in the vicinity of the building, as the Egyptian Civil Protection Authority (CPA) used hydraulic ladders to rescue those stuck in the collapsed building.
Cairo Governor Khaled Abdel Aal has formed another engineering committee to examine the causes of the collapse, and inspect neighbouring buildings.
Cairo Governorate Spokesperson Ibrahim Awad said although the building is recorded as “architectural heritage”, two decisions were issued for its demolition, but they were not implemented.
