Authorities have reported that a five-storey building in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, collapsed on Monday, resulting in the tragic loss of at least nine lives. Rescue efforts are underway as teams diligently search through the debris.

Building collapses are unfortunately common in Egypt, largely due to substandard construction practices and a lack of maintenance prevalent in slums, urban areas, and rural regions.

According to the state-run MENA news agency, rescue teams have recovered the bodies of nine individuals from beneath the rubble in Cairo's Hadaeq el-Qubbah district, situated approximately 3.2 kilometers away from the city center. Additionally, four survivors have been transported to the hospital, and authorities have evacuated a neighboring building.

Preliminary investigations conducted by Cairo's deputy governor, Hossam Fawzi, have revealed that the collapse was caused by a ground-floor resident who had removed several walls during previous maintenance work. The individual has been apprehended and will undergo further scrutiny.

The Ministry of Social Solidarity in Egypt has announced its intention to donate 60,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,940) to the families of the nine victims. The ministry is also providing assistance to the injured individuals and monitoring the extent of damage to nearby properties.

Local reports indicate that the area has been cordoned off by the police, while rescue teams continue their search for any possible survivors.

In recent years, the Egyptian government has made efforts to combat illegal construction and enforce stricter regulations, following a long history of lax enforcement. Additionally, authorities are constructing new towns and neighborhoods to relocate individuals living in high-risk areas.