18 children among dozens killed in Egypt church fire - CNN

The toll stands at 41 dead and 14 injured, Egypt's Coptic Church said in a statement, citing health officials.

Church officials also believe the fire was accidental, said Coptic Church spokesperson Archpriest Moussa Ibrahim, adding a priest was among those killed.

Egypt's Coptic community and churches have been a target of religious-based violence and attacks historically, with persecution and discrimination spiking since the toppling of Hosni Mubarak's regime in 2011.

"We are in continuous contact with the local authorities and the Health Ministry," the head of the Coptic Church, Pope Tawadros II, said, according to the church spokesperson. 

Youssef Islam, 16, who works at a bakery next door to the church said the worst of the flames were on the fourth floor.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi tweeted his condolences to the victims of the fire.

"I offer my sincere condolences to the families of the innocent victims who moved to the side of their Lord in one of the houses of worship," Sisi said.

The Egyptian President said he is closely following developments of the "tragic accident" and that he has directed state agencies to take the necessary measures to immediately deal with the tragedy and provide care for the injured.

Sisi has directed the Armed Forces Engineering Authority to repair the church, the spokesperson for the Coptic Orthodox Church announced, according to state news Ahramonline.

Chairman of the Egyptian Armed Forces Engineering Authority Hesham El Swefy told Pope Tawadros in a phone call about Sisi's instructions to reconstruct the church, the state news agency said.

Egyptian soccer player Mo Salah, who plays for Liverpool and captains the national team, also sent a message of support to those affected by the tragedy on Sunday, saying in a tweet: "My sincere condolences to the victims of the Abu Sefein Church, and my best wishes for a speedy recovery to all the injured."

A preliminary investigation into the fire "indicated that the blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit," Egyptian state news reported, citing a statement from prosecutor-general Hamada El Sawy.

El Sawy visited the site and said eyewitnesses told his team the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit in a power generator, according to Egyptian state news.

"The prosecution team has examined all of the victims' bodies and found no visible injuries on the deceased bodies except suffocation signs," El Sawy said.

The public prosecution has questioned 14 of the injured and ordered the Public Administration for Criminal Evidence to collect evidence at the scene, according to the statement quoted.