Alexandrians gather to watch leaning building collapse

CAIRO – 12 June 2017: Gatherings of people lining the streets are a usual phenomenon in Egyptian neighborhoods during football games and Ramadan grand iftars, but on Saturday, Alexandrians lined up for a very different purpose – to watch Al-Azarita’s now infamous leaning building collapse.

The photo of the Alexandrian apartment block went viral on social media after ‎local resident Salem Massalha snapped the scene and published it on his official account on Saturday, with comments mocking the surreal scene.

“The happy people of Alexandria gather at night to watch the collapsing building,” Massalha commented on his photo.



The building ignited curiosity of both social media users and government officials when its poor construction caused the tower block to suddenly lean on a neighboring building, raising questions about the corruption of Azarita’s local administration.

Half of the floors of the building in Ali Al-Khashkhani street have already been emptied, with families retrieving their belongings safely from all apartments.

The other remaining floors are currently being emptied under the supervision of the dean of the engineering faculty at Alexandria University, added Mohamed Sultan, Governor of Alexandria.