EGYPT: Building collapses cause growing danger to residents of Egypt's Alexandria

Record ID: 216347

  • Title: EGYPT: Building collapses cause growing danger to residents of Egypt's Alexandria
  • Date: 5th November 2012
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HOUSEWIFE, IKRAM MOHAMED, SAYING: "We do not have any supervision from the neighbourhood officials to monitor the areas and which buildings are at risk of collapsing. They don't take action unless there's a catastrophe. If there is a catastrophe and victims, they come immediately. You go file a request, and they tell you they'll come, but then they ign
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Disasters,Economy
  • Reuters ID: LVA27OSZDD0KFEJFSK7LC1YZK0CV
  • Story Text: Illegal, shoddy building construction has for years caused building collapses in Egypt's second largest city, Alexandria. Hundreds have been killed in such incidents in recent years, and residents of the city are becoming increasingly fed up. Alexandria's Engineering Union is attempting to fix these problems to avoid what they say is a worsening problem.


    Construction violations continue to pose a danger to residents in Alexandria, Egypt's second city, due to lax building standards and poor maintenance.
    In recent years, the city has seen the fall of many buildings causing the death of many residents.
    Many blame the crisis on local authorities who, they claim, have failed to implement demolition orders and unauthorised construction work.
    Buildings with high potential for collapse are more apparent in the alleyways, home to the city's poor.
    Rubble from old collapsed buildings litter the alleyways, and the buildings surrounding these areas seem to be on the verge of collapse.
    According to Egyptian housewife Ikram Mohamed, the construction crisis in Alexandria is due to the lack of government supervision.
    "We do not have any supervision from the neighbourhood officials to monitor the areas which buildings are at risk of collapsing. They don't take action unless there's a catastrophe. If there is a catastrophe and victims, they come immediately. You go file a request, and they tell you they'll come, but then they ignore us again," she said.
    Some residents say that the lack of government supervision has paved the way for more violations in newly constructed buildings and has increased corruption in the industry.
    They say there have been cases where owners and contractors of new buildings have built unauthorised additional floors, in order to maximise their profits, disregarding the danger it may cause to future residents.
    Newly appointed Vice-Governor of Alexandria, Hassan El-Brins, visited the scene of a recently collapsed factory and commented on the construction violations.
    "We will not be lenient with any house that violates the construction laws. And anyone who violates the rules will be punished. And every person planning to violate in Alexandria must know that, it's better for them if they don't," he said.
    With light now being shed on violations made by newly constructed buildings, residents living in Alexandria's old buildings are now seeking government attention.
    Widowed housewife, Shadia Abdel Salam, says she lives under a roof that could, at any moment, fall down.
    "The house is falling on us; the owners don't want to demolish it nor sell it and they want to kick us out of it without providing us with alternative homes or money. We are poor, We can't afford it. My husband is dead and my daughter is living with me with her daughter," she said.
    Many engineers also called on government officials to solve the problem of old buildings. One of them is Dr. Ali Barakat, Leader of Alexandria's Engineers Union.
    "There are people who have been living in old buildings which are no longer suitable for living. So logically speaking, these people are living under poor conditions and have not violated any construction laws as they were living in licensed buildings, so as a state, we provide them with alternative housing for rent, in a suitable area," he said.
    Having first appeared in impoverished areas, construction violations are believed to be catastrophic as they also endanger surrounding buildings.
    Concern has been voiced over the way the government can stop violations in newly constructed buildings. Barakat says measures are already being taken against those violating.
    "The houses that have the potential to collapse must be demolished. Buildings that violate the rules and build on the street must be demolished, buildings that violate the technical bases and could suddenly collapse at any time must have their situation assessed and studied. Thus, today we have adopted a decision of not delivering major facilities to buildings that are violating the construction rules," he said.
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