The building housing 24 families collapsed in the early hours in Al-Maamoura, a district located in the eastern part of Alexandria.
Police arrested the two owners of the building. Health Ministry officials say the death toll is likely to rise as rescue workers continue pulling out bodies from the rubble.
Residents of Al-Maamoura had warned provincial authorities about an imminent collapse, citing complaints about sewage water that flooded their neighbourhood following days of heavy rainfall.
Mohamed Abbas Atta, the Governor of Alexandria, told state-owned news agency MENA that the building, situated on El-Rehab Street, was constructed without a license.
The incident highlights allegations of widespread corruption when it comes to regulating the housing sector in heavily populated areas. PTI
NSA
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