Emergency services in Cairo said today at least eighteen people have been killed and thirty five injured by a rockslide which destroyed homes.

Reports said Dozens of houses in the east of central Cairo were hit by huge stones, each estimated to weigh about 70 tones - fell this morning from the towering cliffs overlooking the district.

Eye witnesses said there are five hundreds people under the rubble.

It was not clear what had triggered the rock fall but some sources said there have been previous landslides in the area.