41 Dead, 14 Injured After Fire Rips Through Packed Coptic Church in Cairo During Sunday Liturgy

Lord have mercy !

Wow... one of the saddest stories I have read for some time.

Lord have mercy!
So many factors contributing to this tragedy

Lord have mercy!

Michie said:

CAIRO (AP) — A fire ripped through a packed Coptic Orthodox church during morning services in Egypt’s capital on Sunday, quickly filling it with thick black smoke and killing 41 worshippers, including at least 10 children.

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Fire at Cairo Coptic church kills 41, including 10 children

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I was just mentioning this in Lady Bugs thread.

The Church where Our Lady was seen in the 80's or such.

I wonder what started it.

Prayers.

prodromos said:

Lord have mercy!
So many factors contributing to this tragedy

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I've got to read it.
Do you know more?

WarriorAngel said:

I've got to read it.
Do you know more?

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The age of the Church, the fact that it was built long before certain standards were established for egress in emergencies. Many such buildings become deathtraps when fire breaks out and little can be done to improve the situation, short of demolishing and rebuilding. I'm with my wife and daughter in Thessaloniki at the moment and many of the Churches here have similar problems.

Lord have mercy

Michie said:

During the pandemic, Coptic Christian women and girls have reportedly been abducted and forcefully converted to Islam, and some Christian communities have experienced deprivation of resources.

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Who Are the Coptic Christians? Tragic Church Fire a Blow to a Persecuted Group

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That's what I was wondering...
Was this arson??