41 died and 12 were injured in a fire that broke out in the Church of the Martyr Abu Sefein in Imbaba on Sunday morning, according to a statement by Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar.
He added that the ministry has been very adamant about providing ambulances and medical services to the victims of the incident, noting that 55 cases were transferred to hospitals in Imbaba and Agouza.
For his part, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi said that he’s following closely the tragic accident, saying: “I directed all relevant state agencies to take immediate measures to deal with the unfortunate situation.”
The ministry said that the deaths came as a result of suffocation from the thick smoke and getting trampled in the rush to escape from the burning building.
The fire blocked the exit of the prayer hall, which led to the charring of some bodies. The majority of the dead were children, and among the injured were two officers and three members of various civil protection forces.
In its statement, the ministry stated that the examination of forensic evidence revealed that the fire originated from an air-conditioner that had an electrical malfunction on the second floor of the church building — which includes a number of classrooms.
Furthermore, Hossam Abdel Ghaffar — Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population — confirmed that 37 ambulances were dispatched to the scene of the accident.
He also pointed out readiness of the hospitals in Giza and Cairo, pointing out that all blood types and emergency drugs are available.
Additionally, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly visited the injured in the hospitals they were transferred to and confirmed that the government would provide all means of health care and support for them and the families of the victims.
He also announced the disbursement of EGP 100,000 to the family of each deceased, and EGP 20,000 to the family of each victim of injury.
