CAIRO: The Ministry of Irrigation has declared a state of emergency Sunday amid heavy rain that caused flooding in South Sinai and Aswan governorates last night.
“The minister decided to set up an operation room to follow up the clearing of water drains across the country particularly in afflicted areas in Sinai and Aswan. We also coordinate with stakeholders in South Sinai governorate to close the Wadi Watir and Nuweiba-Taba road in both directions,” caretaker Irrigation Minister Hossam Moghazy said in a statement Sunday.
He added that the ministry has been harnessing all its capabilities and powers in order to assist in case of emergency.
Medium torrential rain swept areas northeast of the Sinai Peninsula including the Gulf of Aqaba, St. Catherine city, Wadi el Malha and Wadi Mashash Saturday, according to an irrigation ministry statement, no reports of deaths, injuries or collapse of buildings have been received so far.