Dozens of people have died in a stampede after a fire broke out at a church in Egypt.
According to authorities, there are at least 41 fatalities and numerous injuries. There may be children among the deceased.
An electrical fire broke out, according to security sources moments into the Coptic Abu Sifin church mass.
The fire blocked an entrance and led to a stampede. It’s unclear what started the fire exactly.Â
Father Farid Fahmy from a different nearby church in the Imbaba neighborhood, however, told the AFP news agency that the short circuit was to blame.
“The power was out and they were using a generator,” he said. “When the power came back, it caused an overload.”
Worshippers have been explaining their moments since the blaze ignited.
“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 started falling on top of each other,” Yasir Munir told Reuters.
“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
