13-Storey Building Collapses in Alexandria

A 13-storey apartment building has collapsed in the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria, police say.

According to witnesses, speaking to local media on Monday, several people are trapped beneath the rubble, including residents and customers of a supermarket in the building.

A statement from Alexandria's governor Maj Gen Mohamed El Sherif said the block's occupants were all holidaymakers who do not live in the city but were merely visiting during the summer months.

The building dates back to the 1970s, Mr El Sherif said. He added that it had been scheduled for demolition in the near future.

An investigation had begun to determine exactly why the building collapsed, the governor confirmed.

Rescue teams are on site to remove the rubble and determine whether there are people trapped under it. So far, only one person has been reported injured, Mr El Sherif said, which conflicts with the witness reports.