Smoke is still rising out of a 13-storey building in Giza - located near the Ring Road - four days after a massive fire engulfed the structure and amid fears of its collapse.   

The building consists of 108 apartments, with 15 occupied.

All occupants were evacuated and no casualties have been reported to date since the start of the fire on Saturday.

Authorities have ordered the stopping of fire-fighting efforts, fearing that continuous water confrontation of the fire may increase damage to the infrastructure of the building.

The fire started at a shoe and leather store on the ground floor, the Giza governorate’s office said on Sunday.

Giza Governor Ahmed Rashed said that the building is unlicensed. He also denied yesterday earlier reports that the building’s structure was tilted in a sign of an imminent collapse.

“We will not intervene to put out the fire at the Faisal building … we will wait until the fire is extinguished by itself,” Rashed said in his remarks to Sada El-Balad on Monday.

Rashed said a number of employees, engineers and technicians at Kerdasa district, where the building is located, were referred to investigation.

He reassured citizens that an engineering committee has indicated that a probable collapse of the building would not harm the Ring Road, but added that the neighbouring building was evacuated and three others were closed to ensure the citizens’ safety.

Rashed said the authorities had issued a decision to demolish the building over construction violations. The owner then requested a reconciliation with the state on the building violation, but his request was rejected, Rashed added.