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Security members stand at the scene where a deadly fire broke out at the Abu Sifin church in Giza, Egypt

Fire at Church in Cairo Kills At Least 41, Mostly Children 

An electrical fire swept through an Egyptian Coptic Christian church during Mass on Sunday, August 14, causing a stampede and killing at least 41 people, most of them children, and many suffering from smoke inhalation.

The blaze started just before 9 a.m. in the Abu Sifin church in the city of Giza, where about up to 1,000 people had gathered.

The fire blocked an entrance to the church, causing the stampede, two sources said, adding that most of those killed were children.

“People were gathering on the third and fourth floor, and we saw smoke coming from the second floor. People rushed to go down the stairs and started falling on top of each other,” said worshiper Yasir Munir.

“Then we heard a bang and sparks and fire coming out of the window,” he said, saying he and his daughter were on the ground floor and able to escape. (NYP / VFI News)