Preliminary investigations revealed that the building, which collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday, was constructed in 1961 in the Abbasiya district in the Al-Waily area.

Following the collapse, civil protection teams rushed into the site, with rescue operations ongoing in search for any additional victims trapped under the debris.  

Meanwhile, investigators are questioning witnesses to determine the exact number of occupants in the building at the time of its collapse.

Security forces cordoned off the area until removing the debris and finalizing rescue operations.

Ahmed Awad, head of the Al-Waily neighbourhood, revealed in remarks to Al-Ahram website that the collapsed building had been issued a repair and restoration order in 1993.  

He said that residents of the building, which showed cracks before it completely collapsed, had appealed the decision, which was never implemented. He added that, in recent years, the executive authorities in Al-Waily and the police station issued more than seven restoration warnings to the building's occupants.

Following the incident, Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber directed the transfer of the injured to El-Demerdash Hospital for necessary treatment and the provision of urgent aid to those affected.

He also ordered the appointment of an engineering committee to examine the collapsed building and nearby structures. 

Saber further directed the precautionary evacuation of residents from neighbouring buildings to evaluate the impact of the collapse on these structures. He also instructed the Social Solidarity Directorate of Cairo Governorate to disburse emergency aid to the affected individuals.

The incident is the most recent in a series of building collapses in Egypt, frequently attributed to ageing infrastructure or poor structural integrity.