Cairo, December 21 (BNA) The stormy weather prompted the Egyptian authorities to suspend studies today, Monday, in the Egyptian capital and a few other governorates, as a precautionary measure.
Authorities also closed ports in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and the cities of Port Said and Suez on the Suez Canal, the Associated Press reported.
The country’s meteorological authority said moderate to heavy rains are expected on the northern coast and the Nile Delta region. The agency also said that dust storms are expected to hit the northern and southern parts of the country and reduce visibility.
The Ministry of Environment also urged the elderly and those suffering from chest and respiratory illnesses to stay indoors on Monday to avoid weather-related complications.
The Ministry of Health said it has deployed more ambulance crews in remote areas and on highways as a precaution in case of road accidents.
Mild rain at night partially flooded streets in some neighborhoods of Cairo and other parts of the country. Local media reported snow fell over Alexandria, partially covering roads and rooftops across the coastal city.
People have taken to social media platforms to post photos and videos to mostly celebrate the rare snowfall over the city. The Arabic hashtag #Alexandria was popular on Monday.
Alexandria became like Moscow. Good winter! Menna Badr wrote in a tweet, referring to the Russian capital known for its icy weather.
The monsoon rains have raised questions about the country’s ability to deal with the floods that usually leave parts of Cairo and other major cities impassable. Floods and torrential rains were also fatal in previous years, especially in rural areas.
Infrastructure, sewage and sewage systems have suffered from a lack of investment and years of poor maintenance. Scenes of trucks roving to drain water from flooded areas in recent years are common.
Heavy rains and floods last month forced scorpions from their hiding places to many homes across the southern governorate of Aswan. At the time, state media reported that 3 people had been killed and more than 500 others were taken to hospital due to scorpion stings in Aswan.
MI