More than 40 people died and 14 were injured in a fire in the parish of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the working-class quarter of the city of Giza (a suburb of Cairo) in Egypt, reports DW, citing the Coptic portal Watani..

According to preliminary data, the fire occurred in the ventilation system of the building.. At the time of the emergency, there were about 5,000 people in the church and a divine service was being held.. Eyewitnesses said the fire caused widespread panic.. According to Watani, among the dead is the rector of the parish.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Facebook said that all the forces of the state were mobilized to ensure the necessary response.. To extinguish the fire and provide medical assistance to the victims, 15 fire brigades and many ambulances were involved.. Al-Sisi has already spoken by phone with Pope Theodore II of Alexandria.

Primate of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the Throne of St. Mark in all Africa and the Middle East Theodore (Tawadros) II expressed his condolences in connection with the "

The Egyptian government promises to pay 50,000 Egyptian pounds (about 2,500 euros) to families who have lost their fathers, and 25,000 pounds (about 1,250 euros) in the event of the death of another family member.

The wounded will receive support in the amount of 5,000 pounds (about 250 euros).

In addition, for families who have lost their breadwinner, a monthly pension is provided..

The Christian minority in Egypt - the Coptic Orthodox Church - belongs to the group of ancient Eastern (pre-Chalcedonian) churches, which differ from the Orthodox churches of the Byzantine tradition by elements of ritual and dogma. The Christian minority in Egypt, the Coptic Egyptians, make up about 10 percent of the population and number approximately nine million people..