Lavada (Ziyaretçi)
| | At least 41 worshippers, feared to be mostly children, have been killed after a fire in a church in Egypt where 5,000 people were praying.
Another 45 people are thought to be injured and have been hospitalised in Giza.
The electrical fire broke out as 5,000 worshippers gathered for mass at the Abu Sifin church in the Imbaba neighborhood, causing a stampede, security sources said.
The presence of a nursery inside the church prompted fears most of the dead are children, Reuters reported.
Worshipper Maher Murad said dropped off his sister at the church after prayers.
He said: 'As soon as I got away from the church by only 10 meters, I heard the sound of screaming and saw thick smoke.
'After the firefighter doused the fire, I recognized my sister's body. The bodies are all charred, and many of them are children, who were in a nursery room in the church.'
An eyewitness photo shows the historic church ablaze, with hundreds gathered outside
The Abu Sifin church is pictured in the minutes after the blaze in a widely circulated photo
A photo taken by an eyewitness in the immediate aftermath of the blaze shows severe damage
An exploded generator is thought to have caused the fire, which then prompted a stampede
Worshippers had gathered to mark the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, one of the holiest dates in the Christian calendar.
The initial death toll was thought to be 35, with AP reporting the higher number of 41 just before midday.
The number injured is estimated to be between 14 and 45.
'People were gathering on the third and fourth floor, and we saw smoke coming from the second floor. People rushed to go down the stairs and stared falling on top of each other,' said Yasir Munir, a worshipper at the church.
'Then we heard a bang and sparks and fire coming out of the window,' he said, adding that he and his daughter were on the ground floor and able to escape.
A woman cries as she appears to speak on the phone to a loved one outside the church
Eyewitnesses said a burned air conditioning unit exploded, causing the horrific blaze. Pictured: the exterior of the church this morning after the fire tore through the building
Egyptian president El-Sisi wrote on Facebook this morning: 'I have directed all relevant state agencies and institutions to take all necessary measures, immediately, to deal with this incident and its effects and to provide all aspect of healthcare to the injured.
'My sincere condolences to the families of the innocent victims who moved to their Lord's neighbor in a house from his homes where he is worshipped.'
There is a nursery inside the church, prompting fears many of the dead may be children.
Security members stand at the scene where a deadly fire broke out in Giza this morning
Police said an initial investigation blamed an electrical short-circuit in the church's AC system
Survivors are gathered outside the site as dozens of ambulances and fire engines swarmed
It's feared that most of those killed in the huge blaze were children, Reuters reported
An exploded generator is thought to have caused the fire, which then prompted a stampede.
Police said an initial investigation blamed an electrical short-circuit.
The statement said the fire broke out while congregation was underway Sunday morning.
A local news agency reported that the parish priest was also killed in the tragic incident.
Coptic archbishop of London Anba Angaelos tweeted: 'Devastating news of Egypt Church Fire this morning during the Divine Liturgy, with 41 confirmed dead and 45 injured so far.
'Praying repose for the departed, healing for the injured, and comfort for families, friends and the community deeply affected.'
The Greek government also sent out a message of condolences to the fire victims, tweeting after midday: 'Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in a fire at a church in Giza, Egypt.
'Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families &wishes for a swift recovery to the injured. At this difficult time, Greece stands in full solidarity with our close friends the people and Government of Egypt.'
The town of Giza, Egypt's second city, lies in the shadow of the pyramids, pictured last week
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