A fire ripped through a Coptic church in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Sunday, killing 41 congregant worshippers and injuring 14 others.
In a statement, the Coptic Church said the cause of the fire at the Abu Sefein church in the working-class neighborhood of Imbaba is not yet determined by fire investigators.
The smoke and stampede have been blamed for the huge number of casualties.
According to reports, the fire is considered the worst fire tragedy in Egypt in recent years.
The Coptic Church revealed the deadly fire occurred while the service was still underway.
Due to the enormous fire, 15 firefighting vehicles responded to the area, alongside some ambulances.
Egypt's Coptic Church, citing health officials, says fire at Cairo church kills at least 41 people, reports AP pic.twitter.com/lSX4KMqRmJ
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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has already offered condolences to Coptic Christian Pope Tawadros II.
“I am closely following the developments of the tragic accident,” el-Sissi wrote on Facebook.
“I directed all concerned state agencies and institutions to take all necessary measures and immediately deal with this accident and its effects,” el-Sissi added.
Egypt’s Christians account for some 10% of the nation’s more than 103 million people and have long complained of discrimination by the nation’s Muslim majority.
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