Cairo, Egypt – A tragic building collapse in central Cairo on Tuesday has left eight people dead and three more critically injured, according to Egypt’s health ministry. The six-storey residential building, located in the lower-middle-income Al-Waili neighborhood, crumbled after what residents described as a “huge explosion.”
The collapse occurred early in the morning, and rescuers quickly mobilized to the scene. Nine ambulances were dispatched, and emergency teams worked tirelessly to lift rubble and search for any survivors or bodies, said Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesman for the health ministry.
Waleed Mohamed, a 38-year-old resident of the area, was among the first on the scene. “I woke up to a sound of a huge explosion,” he told AFP. “I ran towards the building and saw it collapsed. The gas pipe exploded, and everything was destroyed.” Mohamed’s account reflects the intensity of the blast and the immediate devastation that followed.
The building, which had been constructed in the 1960s, had long been in a dilapidated state. A restoration order was issued for the building in 1993, but, according to district head Ahmed Awad, the residents had appealed the order, and it was never executed. “The building’s residents had appealed the order, and it was not executed,” Awad said, as reported by state newspaper Al-Ahram.
The collapse has reignited concerns about the state of many buildings in central Cairo, where numerous structures, especially those built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, have remained in disrepair for decades. According to experts, these buildings often lack proper maintenance, and residents sometimes fail to comply with renovation orders.
Following the incident, authorities evacuated neighboring buildings as a precautionary measure to prevent further casualties. The Cairo governorate has issued statements urging residents of similar buildings to take precautions and adhere to safety regulations.
Cairo, with a population exceeding 26 million, has witnessed several deadly building collapses in recent years. These incidents have raised alarms about the country’s aging infrastructure and the widespread failure to follow building safety regulations. Many buildings in Cairo are overcrowded and lack basic maintenance, further exacerbating the risks of such accidents.
This latest collapse highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Egypt in addressing the poor condition of its urban infrastructure. Experts have called for increased enforcement of building codes and better oversight to prevent further tragedies.
As rescue operations continue, the victims’ families are left grappling with the aftermath of the devastating collapse, and authorities are under growing pressure to address the widespread neglect of Cairo’s older buildings.