SW News: Sunday, August 14, was a day of mourning for the Coptic Church in Egypt after 41 believers died in a blaze in a church in Imbabah in Giza. The incident took place during morning worship and reports say that at least 18 children lost their lives and several people suffered injuries. Hospital records show that the children were aged between three and 16.

Around 5,000 people had gathered for Sunday Liturgy at the Church of the Great Martyr Mercurius Abo Sefein when the blaze broke out. The second-largest city in Egypt, Giza is located just across the Nile from Cairo.

According to a statement from the interior ministry, the fire started on the second-floor air conditioning due to an electrical problem. It stated that smoke inhalation was the primary cause of death. The death toll is high because a doorway was blocked by flames, causing the victims to tumble on top of one another, causing a stampede. Among those hurt are four police officers who were engaged in rescue efforts.

According to a witness, "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. Then we heard a bang, sparks, and fire coming out of the window."

The Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Tawadros II, offered his condolences to the victims' families. In a press release, the prelate stated, "We are following with sorrow the tragic incident that occurred this morning in the Church of the Great Martyr Mercurius Abu Sefein in the Imbabah Airport area, north of Giza." His Beatitude further assured solidarity and prayers for the wounded and entrusted them to the Lord.

Alongside offering his condolences to the Coptic Chair, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said he stands with "the families of the innocent victims who perished to be with their Lord in one of His churches."

Sunday's blaze was one of the worst fire tragedies in recent years in Egypt.