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Egyptians Hunt for Survivors After Rock Slide; Toll at 24

By the Associated Press

Posted Sep 6, 2008 10:43 PM CDT

(AP) – Egyptian rescuers continued to hunt for survivors tonight after massive boulders crashed down on a shantytown on the outskirts of Cairo. At least 24 are dead and many more buried under tons of rubble. Frantic residents in the sprawling Manshiyet Nasr slum were digging by hand and trying to lift huge rocks to reach any survivors, shouting out the names of relatives and family members trapped below.

Some survivors were using cell phones to call for help. At least 8 boulders, some the size of small houses, peeled away from the towering Muqattam cliffs and buried about 50 homes in the slum, one of many densely populated shantytowns ringing the city of 17 million. "My whole family is underneath the rock," sobbed one father. "I can't do anything. I just want my children back."

Rescue workers search for victims after the rock slide.
Rescue workers search for victims after the rock slide.   (Mohammed Ahmed)
Local residents searching for survivors try to clear away rubble with their bare hands and basic tools.
Local residents searching for survivors try to clear away rubble with their bare hands and basic tools.   (Ben Curtis)
Local residents searching for survivors try to clear away rubble with their bare hands and basic tools.
Local residents searching for survivors try to clear away rubble with their bare hands and basic tools.   (STR)
Local residents searching for survivors try to clear away rubble with their bare hands and basic tools.
Local residents searching for survivors try to clear away rubble with their bare hands and basic tools.   (Ben Curtis)
Egyptians search for victims after the rock slide.
Egyptians search for victims after the rock slide.   (STR)
A local resident searching for survivors peers underneath rubble.
A local resident searching for survivors peers underneath rubble.   (Ben Curtis)
Egyptian rescuers lift the body of one of the victims following the massive rock slide.
Egyptian rescuers lift the body of one of the victims following the massive rock slide.   (STR)
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