Egypt church fire: Triplets and twins among 15 children killed

Image caption, Five-year-old twins Mariam and Barsina Wajih and their three-year-old brother Ibrahim were among the victims

At least 15 children were among the 41 people killed when a fire tore through a Coptic Christian church in Egypt on Sunday.

The Abu Sefein Church, in Giza's working-class Imbaba district, was packed with people celebrating Mass that morning, including children and their parents. Many other children were attending classes or a nursery on the four-storey building's first floor, where investigators believe the blaze started following an electrical short-circuit.

The health ministry said most of the deaths were the result the smoke inhalation, and also a stampede when people rushed to flee the church through a blocked exit.

According to relatives, church officials, a local hospital and Egyptian news outlets, the child victims included five-year-old twin girls Mariam and Barsina Tamir Wajih and their three-year-old brother Ibrahim.

Media caption,

Egypt church fire survivor: 'We saved who we could'

The siblings died along with their mother Irina Atef Ramzi, 34, their grandmother Magda Habib Nabih, 61, and their aunt, Mirna Atef Ramzi, 25.

The singer Miretya Emad, Magda's niece and Irina's cousin, mourned them in posts on her Facebook account.

"With Christ, which is far better. Remember us before the throne of grace," she wrote. "I now have six saints in heaven."

Miretya Emad's family was not the only one to lose three children in the tragedy.

Five-year-old triplets Mohrael, Youssef and Philopator Bassem Amir also were named on a list of victims published by the Imbaba General Hospital.

Photographs taken at a funeral service on Sunday night appeared to showed their mother mourning beside their coffins and holding up three fingers to signify her children.

Image caption, A woman thought to be the mother of Mohrael, Youssef and Philopator Bassem Amir was photographed at a funeral on Sunday night

Also named on the hospital's list of victims are 10-year-old Karolos Aryan, 13-year-old Mina Azmi, and 16-year-old Mina Fakhir.

The Copts United news website said Karolos's mother also died. But his brother Rami survived.

Rami spoke to reporters about his ordeal from his hospital bed on Sunday. He said that the three of them went to Mass together but became separated during the blaze, and that he did not know what happened to them. Rami was reportedly told of their fate by his cousins following the interview.

"I am the one who took them to Heaven," Esnad said, explaining that she had woken them up to go to Mass. "Mina told me to go on Wednesday," she added. "But I refused and told him that he would go today."

The church's priest, Abdul Masih Bakhit, 50, was among the adult victims named by the hospital. His wife was photographed at the funeral service, clutching what appeared to be a charred piece of his clerical vestments.

Image caption, The wife of Abdul Masih Bakhit, the church's priest, was also photographed at the funeral  source BBC news 

38 people found stranded on tiny, unnamed island

Image caption, The group, who identify themselves as Syrians, have now been taken from the islet to Greece

A group of 38 migrants, including a heavily pregnant woman, have been found stranded on a tiny, unnamed island along the Turkish-Greek border.

The 22 men, nine women and seven children say they have been on the Evros river islet since mid-July.

After being located on Monday, they were taken to mainland Greece.

The country's migration minister said the group were all in a "very good condition" and the pregnant woman had been taken to hospital as a precaution.

However, at least one child died on the islet, which is near the Greek town of Lavara, according to the group and human rights agencies. Greek police have yet to confirm this.

There had been some uncertainty over the group's location and therefore over whether Turkey or Greece should have stepped in to help.

Greek authorities initially said the people - who police say all identify themselves as Syrian - were in Turkish territory.

They were eventually found about 4km (2.4 miles) south of the coordinates outside the Greek territory that was initially reported some days ago. This is why, Greek police suggest, the migrants had not been found earlier.

Baida, one of the women in the group, described being treated like "a football game between the two sides" - Turkey and Greece.

"No-one wants us. No-one hears us. No-one wants to help," she added.

Greece's treatment of migrants trying to reach Europe from Turkey has been highlighted for a number of years.

Human rights groups allege thousands of people seeking asylum have been pushed back before being given the chance to apply for asylum. It's also caused rows within the EU after a senior official claimed last year that the country was breaching European fundamental rights.

Some refugees say they have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters.

The Greek government has always denied these claims and insists it complies with European and international law.

This incident on the Evros river "highlights the brutality of pushbacks", said Dimitra Kalogeropoulou, the Greece director of the International Rescue Committee.

Between January and June 2022, 232 Syrians arrived in Greece by sea according to the UN.

Image caption, The islet is near the Greek town of Lavara

7th Argungu Polo Tourney, Culture Fete holds in Sept.

 

Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR)..

The 7th edition of Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Fete holds on Sept. 8 to 10, mat the sprawling NSK Polo Ranch and Resort in Argungu, Kebbi State.

Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), disclosed this in a statement by Joesef Karim, the Secretary, Organising Committee  on Monday in Abuja.

According to Kangiwa, Nigeria’s dominance of West Africa’s sports and cultural tourism industry, will be further showcased at the annual event.

He stated that Argungu Polo Tournament and Culture Fete had over the years lived-up to its billing, as one of the most spectacular and massively visited African Polo and cultural tourism festival in Nigeria.

Hee said international dignitaries would herald the event, adding that since its inception in 2016, leading Polo teams from popular Nigerian Polo clubs had regularly featured in the prestigious Tournament.

He added that the tournament was powered by Argungu Emirate Council, the Government of Kebbi State and Fan Milk, among other corporate organisations who had historically supported the event.

Argungu is one of Nigeria’s historically significant towns and the host town of UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage asset in Nigeria – the famous Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival.

“Over the years, the tournament organisers have consistently rallied stakeholders in the Polo and Tourism communities and Corporate Nigeria, to partner in making the event more beneficial to the rural host communities.

“NSK Ranch & Resort started hosting the Polo Tournament in Keffi, Nasarawa State and now holds the event in Argungu, Kebbi State,” he said.

He, however, added that the cultural entertainment groups from neighbouring West African countries had been enchanting players, residents, visitors and tourists with awe-inspiring traditional performances.

According to him, the groups come from Niger Republic, Benin Republic and the host destination, the ancient kingdom of Argungu, now referred as Argungu Emirate

The NIHOTOUR DG said the organisng Committee of the event had announced that participating Polo clubs in the tournament would be playing to win any of the prestigious Cups such as Governor’s Cup and Sultan’s Cup.

Others were Emir of Argungu’s Cup, Emir of Kano’s Cup, King Appolos Chu’s Cup, Lai Mohammed’s Cup, Shehu Kangiwa’s Cup and Abubakar Dangiwa Umar’s Cup, among other laurels.

“The committee indicated that 6 polo teams will take part in the tournament, which are the NSK Farms Team, H. Hago Team, Ayatun Team, JRB Solar Team, NIHOTOUR Team and Osolo Team,” he said.

He stated that not less than 24 polo players, some of whom are the best in Nigeria, and over 80 Polo horses would be involved in the tournament for three days.

Kangiwa, who holds the traditional title of Turakin Kebbi, and also Patron of Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Fete, promised that the activities lined-up for this year’s tourney would surpass previous editions’.

“This year there will be more emissaries, international dignitaries and foreign governments’ officials in attendance at the event.

“The cultural entertainment groups from West African countries have confirmed their participation and are currently making arrangements accordingly.

“Some of the traditional displays at the event will be Culinary arts, Traditional wrestling, Camel racing, Horse racing, mini-Durbar, folk dancing, Bull fighting, and many other uncommon traditional spectacles,” he added.

He disclosed that the event is one of the most veritable examples of successful Nigerian tourist product management by the private sector, in partnership with host communities.

Kangiwa extolled the pioneering roles and fatherly support provided by the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mera, who is the Grand Patron of the Polo Tournament.

The Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Fete, served the domestic and inbound Nigeria markets; by offering the majesty of the Polo game, traditional sports and cultural activities in a historic African destination.

The objective is to sustainably improve the economic multiplier-effects of the event to Kebbi State residents and tourist host communities.(NAN)