At least 41 people have died in a fire in a church a few kilometers from the capital of Egypt, Cairo.

An electrical fire broke out as 5,000 worshipers gathered for mass at the Abu Sefein church in the Imbaba neighborhood near Cairo, sources told Reuters news agency.

The fire blocked an entrance to the church, causing chaos, they said, adding that most of those killed were children,

‼️A terrible tragedy in #Egypt

A fire broke out in the #Coptic church of #giza due to a malfunction of the air conditioner, as a result of which more than 40 people died and dozens were injured.

Many parishioners were injured in the stampede.

pic.twitter.com/5twoNasjiC

— Johan (@Helpful_Hand_SA) August 14, 2022

The death toll was announced by the country's Coptic Church, citing health officials and security sources.

It is reported that at least 14 other people were injured.

"People were gathering on the third and fourth floors and we saw smoke coming from the second floor," said Yasir Munir, a devotee.

"People rushed down the stairs and started falling on top of each other.

Then we heard a noise and sparks and fire coming out of the window," he said, adding that he and the girl were on the first floor and could escape.

Maher Murad told Reuters that he left his sister in the church after prayers, adding that "I was only 10 meters away from the church when I heard the sound of screams and saw thick smoke.

After the firemen extinguished the fire, I recognized my sister's body.

The bodies were all burned and many of them are children who were in a nursery room in the church."

"There are children, we didn't know how to get to them," Abu Bishoy said, adding that "We don't know whose son this is, or whose daughter it is.

Is this possible?”

At least 41 people have been killed and 50 injured in a fire inside the Abu Sefein Church in Giza, Egypt.

The fire blocked an entrance to the church, causing a stampede as most of those killed were children, two security sources told Reuters pic.twitter.com/RtSD2bf5Gk

— TRT World (@trtworld) August 14, 2022

The Interior Ministry said it was informed of the fire around 9:00 a.m. local time, and the fire broke out in an air conditioner on the second floor of the building.

Sunday's fire is one of the worst fire tragedies in recent years in a country where safety standards and fire regulations are poorly enforced.

In March last year, a fire at a garment factory near Cairo killed at least 20 people and injured 24 others.

At least 41 people have been killed, including children, after a fire at a church in Giza city, Egypt.

Around 5000 worshipers were inside the Abu Sefein church when the blaze broke out ⤵️

🔗: https://t.co/IcuKABtftv pic.twitter.com/FiFyn84vKz

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 14, 2022