At least five people have died and seven others injured after a building collapsed in Al-Maamoura, a district located in the eastern part of Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city. However, ambulance sources have told Ahram Online that at least seven bodies have been found dead. Military forces evacuated tens of residents from two buildings surrounding the site of Wednesday's building collapse. Health ministry officials say the death toll could rise as rescue efforts are still underway. Mohamed Abdel-Moneim El-Sharkawy, undersecretary of the ministry of health in Alexandria, told Al-Ahram Arabic news website, that one of the dead included a man who felt the building was unsafe managed to escape with his wife and daughter. When he returned to warn his neighbours, it was too late. Another victim included an 18-month-old girl. Most of the reported injuries were of bone fractures and blood clots. El-Sharkawy also said the eight-storey building that collapsed in the early morning was built five years ago, adding that several actions and violations had been filed against its construction. Mohamed Abbas Atta, the Governor of Alexandria, told state-owned news agency MENA, that the building, situated on El-Rehab Street, was constructed without a license. The incident highlights allegations of widespread corruption between officials and landlords when it comes to regulating the housing sector in heavily populated areas. In 2008, at least 11 people were killed in Alexandria after a four-storey building collapsed at night while residents were asleep. A similar collapse in July 2012 killed at least nine people, and in October that year, another four were killed. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/62589.aspx
