The reason for the blaze within the Abu Sefein church within the working-class neighborhood of Imbaba was not instantly identified. An preliminary investigation pointed to {an electrical} short-circuit, in response to a police assertion.

Footage from the scene circulated on-line confirmed burned furnishings, together with picket tables and chairs. Firefighters have been seen placing out the blaze whereas others carried victims to ambulances. Households waited for phrase on relations who have been contained in the church.

Witnesses stated there have been many youngsters contained in the constructing when the fireplace broke out.

“There are kids we didn’t know easy methods to get to them,” stated Abu Bishoy. “And we don’t know whose son that is, or whose daughter that’s. Is that this attainable?”

The nation’s well being minister blamed the smoke and a stampede as folks tried to flee the fireplace for inflicting the fatalities. It was one of many worst fireplace tragedies in Egypt in recent times.

Witness Emad Hanna stated the church contains two locations used as a daycare for youngsters, and {that a} church employee managed to get many youngsters out.

“We went upstairs and located folks lifeless. And we began to see from outdoors that the smoke was getting greater, and folks need to bounce from the higher ground. … We discovered the youngsters.”

Egypt’s Coptic Church and the nation’s well being ministry reported the casualty toll. The church stated the fireplace broke out whereas a service was underway. The church is positioned in a slim avenue in one of the crucial densely populated neighborhoods in Cairo.

Fifteen firefighting autos have been dispatched to the scene to place out the flames whereas ambulances ferried casualties to close by hospitals, officers stated.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi spoke by cellphone with the Coptic Christian Pope Tawadros II to supply his condolences, the president’s workplace stated. Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, Al-Azhar’s Grand Imam, additionally provided his condolences to the pinnacle of the Coptic church.

“I’m intently following the developments of the tragic accident,” el-Sissi wrote on Fb. “I directed all involved state businesses and establishments to take all essential measures, and instantly to take care of this accident and its results.”

Well being Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghafar stated in a press release that two of the injured have been discharged from a hospital whereas 12 others have been nonetheless being handled.

The Inside Ministry stated it acquired a report on the fireplace at 9 a.m. native time, and that they discovered that the blaze broke out in an air conditioner within the constructing’s second ground.

The ministry, which oversees police and firefighters, blamed {an electrical} short-circuit for the fireplace, which produced big quantities of smoke. In the meantime, the nation’s chief prosecutor, Hamada el-Sawy, ordered an investigation and a crew of prosecutors have been dispatched to the church.

In a while Sunday, emergency providers stated they managed to place out the blaze and the prime minister and different senior authorities officers arrived to examine the positioning.

Egypt’s Christians account for some 10% of the nation’s greater than 103 million folks and have lengthy complained of discrimination by the nation’s Muslim majority.

Sunday’s blaze was one of many worst fireplace tragedies in recent times in Egypt, the place security requirements and fireplace rules are poorly enforced. In March final 12 months, a hearth at a garment manufacturing facility close to Cairo killed at the least 20 folks and injured 24 extra.