Residents of Alexandria’s Manshiya neighborhood refused to evacuate two buildings, as per a request by municipal engineers who had formed a committee to check the buildings after cracks started to appear on them.

The residents decided to remain inside the two three-story buildings, , saying they have nowhere else to go.

Building collapses in Egypt have increased in recent years. They are often blamed on local authorities’ failure to execute demolition orders on time and unauthorized construction of additional floors.

At least 19 people died earlier in July when four building collapsed in the Alexandria neighborhood of Gomrok because of construction violations. Authorities arrested the owner days later.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm