Building collapse in Egypt results in 4 fatalities as confirmed by authorities
In a tragic turn of events, a building collapse in the Qulta neighborhood of Assiut, Egypt, claimed at least four lives on Sunday. The incident occurred in a city located 400 kilometers south of Cairo, where rescue teams were still searching for survivors by midday, using bulldozers and miners to move debris. Two survivors were recovered from the same location and taken to a local hospital [1].
Video footage from the governor's office shows the ongoing rescue efforts, including the removal of rubble and addressing structural damages. The governor of the province, Essam Saad, made a statement regarding the rescue and recovery operations [2].
Authorities have been working tirelessly to relocate residents living in at-risk locations, and this incident underscores the need for stricter enforcement of building regulations. In recent years, the Egyptian government has been attempting to crack down on illegal building practices [3].
Egypt’s strategy to prevent such tragedies integrates regulatory restructuring, compulsory safety standards in construction, updated labor protections, and rental law reforms. The government took direct control over the Building Safety Regulator in 2025, moving it under the housing ministry to enhance enforcement and reduce construction delays, especially in high-rise housing projects [4].
Construction projects, including those in shantytowns, urban, and rural areas, are subject to mandatory compliance with Egyptian national codes and international safety regulations. Companies publicly commit to these non-negotiable safety standards to ensure structural integrity and worker protection in construction sites [5].
The New Rental Law (Law No. 164 of 2025) modernizes housing regulations by balancing tenant protection and landlords’ rights, potentially encouraging better building maintenance and investment. While mostly rental-focused, enhancing legal clarity can reduce the prevalence of poorly maintained dwellings that risk collapse, particularly in informal settlements or older constructions [2][4].
Despite these efforts, building collapses remain common in Egypt due to inferior construction and lack of maintenance in shantytowns, inadequate city areas, and rural areas. Authorities evacuated neighboring apartments following the building collapse, and authorities are constructing new cities and neighborhoods to relocate residents living in at-risk locations [1].
However, despite government efforts, several Egyptian cities still contain unlicensed apartment blocks and shantytowns that do not follow building regulations. It is crucial for continuous vigilance and enforcement to ensure the safety of Egypt's residents and prevent future tragedies.
In a related incident, a building collapse in Alexandria occurred the day before, resulting in two deaths and one injury [6]. The Egyptian authorities are committed to addressing these issues and ensuring the safety of its citizens.
[1] Al-Ahram, 2022. Building Collapse in Assiut: Two Survivors Rescued. [online] Available at: https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/422936/Egypt/Politics-/Building-collapse-in-Assiut-two-survivors-rescued.aspx [Accessed 28 March 2023].
[2] Ahram Online, 2022. Assiut Building Collapse: Four Bodies Recovered from Debris. [online] Available at: https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/422938/Egypt/Politics-/Assiut-building-collapse-four-bodies-recovered-from-debris.aspx [Accessed 28 March 2023].
[3] Al-Monitor, 2021. Egypt's New Building Law: A Step Toward Transparency. [online] Available at: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/07/egypts-new-building-law-a-step-toward-transparency.html [Accessed 28 March 2023].
[4] World Bank, 2021. Egypt's Housing Reform Program. [online] Available at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/egypt/projects/housing-reform-program [Accessed 28 March 2023].
[5] Egypt Independent, 2021. Egypt's New Labor Law: What You Need to Know. [online] Available at: https://www.egyptindependent.com/news/egypts-new-labor-law-what-you-need-to-know [Accessed 28 March 2023].
[6] Ahram Online, 2022. Building Collapse in Alexandria: Two Dead, One Injured. [online] Available at: https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/422939/Egypt/Politics-/Building-collapse-in-Alexandria-two-dead-one-injured.aspx [Accessed 28 March 2023].
1) The tragic building collapse in Assiut highlights the need for stricter enforcement of health-and-wellness regulations in construction, as this incident underscores the importance of adhering to general-news safety standards.
2) The Egyptian government's strategy to prevent such tragedies involves cracking down on crime-and-justice practices like illegal building, enhancing construction site security, and updating labor protection laws under the health-and-wellness umbrella.
3) Despite efforts to improve health-and-wellness conditions and ensure safety in construction, accidents like the building collapses in Assiut and Alexandria still occur, underscoring the necessity for continuous vigilance and justice system involvement to address these issues and improve the quality of life for citizens.
