Egypt building collapse death toll at 19

on 16/07/2012 14:47:35

Egypt's health ministry has revealed that the death toll following the collapse of a building in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria has risen to 19.

The ministry released the latest figures as rescue teams continue to search for survivors buried under the rubble.

An 11-storey building in the poor Alexandria neighbourhood of al-Gomrouk collapsed onto three adjacent buildings on Saturday night, reducing much of the structures to rubble.

All of the dead and the nine people injured lived in the three smaller buildings.

Building collapses are not uncommon in Egypt, where shoddy construction is widespread in shantytowns, poor city neighbourhoods and rural areas.

With property at a premium in big cities like Alexandria and Cairo, developers seeking bigger profits frequently violate planning permits and exceed the number of storeys allowed.