Deadly building collapse hits Cairo suburb

At least 13 killed and several feared trapped after residential building falls in western Cairo district of Matariya.


At least 13 people were killed and several were feared trapped after an eight-story building collapsed in the western Cairo suburb of Matariya, Egyptian police officials said.

The officials said that eight residents of the building were also injured when the building fell in early on Tuesday.

Rescue teams were searching for survivors trapped under the rubble and several surrounding buildings have been evacuated.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak on the record, said the collapse was caused by unauthorised construction of several extra stories on the old building.

Building collapses are relatively common in Egypt, where shoddy construction is widespread in shantytowns, poor city neighbourhoods and rural areas.

With a housing shortage and lax government oversight, developers seeking bigger profits frequently build without authorisation or permits.