Two were killed and four injured on Sunday after parts of a residential building collapsed in Alexandria’s Al-Attarin area despite a 1993 partial demolition order that had not been enforced. Civil defence forces and ambulances rushed to the scene while rescue teams evacuated the injured and began clearing debris.

According to a statement, Alexandria Governor Major General Ahmed Khaled, accompanied by civil protection forces, police officials, and other executive authorities, visited the site shortly after the collapse to oversee emergency response efforts.The five-storey building, comprising ground-floor shops and six residential units, had a 1993 order mandating the demolition of the fourth floor and part of the fifth, as well as the restoration of the rest of the structure.However, the order was never executed, and the building remained occupied, according to the statement.

Later, the governor visited the injured at the hospital and instructed the Social Solidarity Directorate to expedite legal procedures for the disbursement of compensation to the wounded and the families of the deceased.

The governor stressed that the relevant authorities will continue monitoring the situation until the site is fully secured and debris is completely removed. A technical committee was formed to examine the building’s structural file and investigate the reasons behind the collapse. In recent years, Alexandria has witnessed a rise in building collapses, usually resulting from violations of building regulations, illegal building extensions, and lax oversight by administrative authorities. In December 2024, under the Public Prosecution’s directives, the government formed 15 committees to inspect dilapidated buildings and take the necessary legal action to demolish or renovate them.