Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir inspected the site of the ruptured water pipe in the El-Malek El-Saleh area of Old Cairo. Photo courtesy of Egyptian cabinet.
The early warning was detected at 2:30pm on Sunday by an automated sensor installed on Building No. 30, next to the under-construction El-Malek El-Saleh Station, part of the line linking 6th of October City to El-Fustat Station.
The incident underscores the sensitivity of construction works in densely built historic districts, where residential buildings, many 60 to 70 years old and built with load-bearing walls, lie along the project’s route.
Authorities said extensive structural surveys were conducted before work began, with reports submitted to Cairo Governorate and high-precision sensors installed for continuous monitoring.
Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir inspected the site immediately after the alert, the ministry said, adding that emergency procedures were activated in coordination with the National Authority for Tunnels, the project consultant, and the executing company.
Cairo Governorate was urgently contacted to stop the leak and control water flow, which has been completed, the statement added.
Monitoring and measurements were intensified to confirm the structural stability of nearby buildings.
Two residential buildings, comprising 18 occupied apartments, were temporarily evacuated as a precaution, with residents accommodated in nearby hotels pending completion of remedial works and full confirmation of structural safety.
Authorities also carried out soil injection around the affected building and the station structure to stabilize the ground and prevent further movement or subsidence.
A comprehensive technical report is being prepared, and residents will be allowed to return once safety is fully confirmed, according to the ministry.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to the highest safety and quality standards, stressing that protecting citizens and property remains its top priority.
Coordination continues with Cairo Governorate and the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater to take any additional measures if required.
Cairo Metro Line 4 is one of Egypt’s flagship transport projects aimed at easing congestion across Greater Cairo and linking western and eastern urban expansions through a high-capacity rapid transit corridor.
Phase I, currently under construction, extends about 19 kilometres from 6th of October City to El-Fustat in Old Cairo, passing through densely populated districts in Giza and central Cairo. The line is designed to interchange with Metro Line 2 at Giza and Metro Line 1 at El-Malek El-Saleh, enhancing network connectivity.
The project is about 60 percent complete and is being carried out by Egyptian companies under the supervision of international consultants and overseen by the National Authority for Tunnels, according to the ministry.
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