CAIRO: At least 41 people were killed and 45 injured in a fire inside a church in Egyptian city of Giza, two security sources told Reuters.

An electrical fire broke out during Mass as 5,000 people gathered at Coptic Abu Sifin church in Imbaba neighbourhood, sources said. Fire blocked an entrance to church, causing a stampede, they said, adding that most of those killed were children. “People were gathering on third and fourth floor and we saw smoke coming from second floor. People rushed to go down stairs and started falling on top of each other,” said Yasir Munir, a worshipper at church.

“Then we heard a bang and sparks and fire coming out of window,” he said, saying he and his daughter were on ground floor and able to escape. Electrical fires of this kind are not a rare occurrence in Egypt in late 2020, a fire at a hospital treating Covid-19 patients killed at least seven people and injured several others.

“I offer my sincere condolences to families of innocent victims that have passed on to be with their Lord in one of his houses of worship,” said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in a tweet.

Maher Murad said he left his sister at church after prayers.

“As soon as I got away from church by only 10 meters, I heard sound of screaming and saw thick smoke,” he said.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 15 2022

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