The building housing 24 families collapsed in the early hours in Al-Maamoura, a district located in the eastern part of Alexandria.
Police arrested the two owners of the building.
Abdel-Aziz Tawfeeq, assistant interior minister, said rescue teams were continuing their search for survivors under the rubble of the building that collapsed.
Emergency teams have rescued two persons but more are trapped under debris.
The cause of the building's collapse is yet to be established. But in the past violations of building specifications and poor maintenance have been blamed for similar accidents.
Mohammed Abbas Atta, governor of Alexandria, confirmed in an interview with Egypt's official news that the building had been constructed five years ago without a permit.
Residents of Al-Maamoura had warned provincial authorities about an imminent collapse, citing complaints about sewage water that flooded their neighbourhood following days of heavy rainfall.
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The incident highlights allegations of widespread corruption when it comes to regulating the housing sector in heavily populated areas. PTI
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