Civil protection personnel also rescued 12 people who were trapped under the rubble, the governorate said in a statement circulated by media.

They have been moved to Rashid General Hospital to receive medical treatment.

The governorate evacuated seven buildings surrounding the collapsed unit to ensure their safety and remove debris. Their residents will temporarily stay in social housing units.

A nearby building was damaged by the collapse despite being in good structural condition, the governorate added.

The collapsed building had three floors that were built illegally and had not complied with a demolition order, the governorate said.

Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Qabbaj ordered the disbursement of EGP 60,000 in compensation to each of the families of the deceased in the collapse.

The Public Prosecution has launched an investigation in response to the incident.

Egypt has witnessed a series of building disasters involving old or compromised structures, resulting in fatalities and injuries to residents, and Sunday's collapse is the latest in this series.

Less than 24 hours before this incident, an old building collapsed in Alexandria, claiming two lives.

On 6 July, one person died when a two-storey building collapsed in the Gomrok neighbourhood of west Alexandria.

At least 10 people died when a 13-story building collapsed in the Sidi Bishr neighbourhood of Alexandria on 26 June.