Egypt: Nine dead as four buildings collapse in Cairo

Dubai: At least nine people have been confirmed dead following the collapse of four residential buildings in the Hadayek El Kobba district of Cairo, Egyptian authorities announced early this week, as civil defence teams continue rescue efforts under mounting fears of additional structural failures in the area.

The tragedy began with the sudden collapse of two adjacent buildings on Abu Seif Street.

The destruction triggered a partial collapse of a third structure, followed by the complete fall of a fourth, spreading panic among residents and prompting a massive emergency response.

Rescue teams from Egypt’s Civil Defense and Urban Search and Rescue units have been working around the clock using hydraulic ladders, thermal scanners, and excavation equipment to search for survivors trapped beneath the rubble.

So far, at least two people, including a woman and her child, have been rescued and transferred to Al Zaytoun Specialized Hospital for treatment.

Footage from the scene showed dramatic images of a woman being lowered from a partially collapsed building on an external ladder, assisted by a rescue worker. At least two civil defense officers suffered from smoke inhalation and were treated at the site.

Emergency services, including eight ambulances, remain stationed around the collapse zone, prepared to transport additional victims as search efforts continue. A security cordon has been placed around the area to ensure public safety and facilitate rescue operations.

Police have launched an investigation, gathering witness statements, reviewing surveillance footage, and inspecting structural integrity reports.

Early reports suggest that residents of the first building had been warned months ago by a municipal engineer that the structure was at risk of imminent collapse. Despite the warning, two families reportedly remained in the building.

The Cairo governorate and the Ministry of Social Solidarity are overseeing the response, assessing damage to nearby properties and arranging temporary shelter and compensation for affected families.

Authorities have also evacuated surrounding buildings amid fears of further collapses, citing visible structural damage caused by the cascading failures. The public prosecutor’s office has opened an official inquiry into the incident, which has once again drawn attention to Egypt’s aging urban infrastructure and the persistent danger of unregulated construction.

-- Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE