Egyptian authorities placed governorates nationwide on maximum alert on Wednesday as severe weather swept across parts of the country, bringing unstable conditions, varying rainfall intensity and temporary closures at two ports.
The government said emergency teams had been mobilised to respond to the bad weather, amid efforts to keep roads passable, protect public infrastructure and reduce risks to residents in affected areas.
According to the Ministry of Local Development and Environment, authorities raised preparedness levels across the country in response to forecasts of heavy rain and unstable weather conditions. The ministry said local administrations had been instructed to remain on high readiness and coordinate closely with emergency agencies.
Local Development and Environment Minister Manal Awad monitored the situation from the National Emergency and Public Safety Network operations centre in the New Administrative Capital, where she held video conferences with officials from several governorates to assess developments and direct response efforts.
Authorities said local officials had been deployed on the ground to oversee the drainage of rainwater from main and secondary roads, tunnels and other vulnerable points in order to maintain traffic flow and ensure the safe movement of citizens. Coordination was also under way with water and sanitation companies and other agencies involved in emergency response.
The ministry said the ports of Burullus on the Mediterranean coast and Hurghada on the Red Sea were temporarily closed because of adverse weather conditions. Officials said port operations would resume once conditions improved and navigation was deemed safe.
The weather disruptions affected several governorates, where rainfall ranged from light showers to heavy downpours, while conditions in other areas later stabilised. Egyptian officials did not immediately report major casualties or widespread infrastructure damage, but said field teams remained on standby in case the situation deteriorated.
Awad instructed local authorities to increase the deployment of water-pumping vehicles and maintain full readiness for emergencies, especially in coastal areas, which are often more vulnerable to sudden rainfall and flooding. She also called for stronger coordination between governorates to allow equipment and technical support to be moved quickly where needed.
The minister further stressed the importance of a sustained field presence, saying rapid response teams should work closely with emergency rooms, utility companies and civil defence units to handle any incidents arising from the unstable weather.
The severe weather comes as Egypt remains vulnerable to periodic episodes of heavy rainfall, flash flooding and transport disruption, especially in urban centres and coastal zones where drainage systems can come under pressure.
In a separate warning issued ahead of the weather system, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority said the country could experience heavy thunderstorms, strong winds and lower temperatures, with the possibility of flash floods in parts of Sinai, the Red Sea mountain range, and areas around the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba.
Authorities urged the public to exercise caution during rainfall and avoid dangerous locations such as under trees, near electricity poles, or close to fast-moving surface runoff. The ministry also advised motorists to limit road travel where possible and to drive carefully in poor visibility or slippery conditions.
Egyptian officials said response teams would remain on alert until weather conditions fully improved.
The closures of Burullus and Hurghada ports underline how even relatively short-lived weather disruptions can affect transport, logistics and maritime operations in Egypt, where coastal infrastructure plays a crucial role in trade, fishing and tourism.
For now, authorities are seeking to prevent localized flooding and ensure that transport links, public services and emergency systems continue to function as the country rides out the latest bout of severe weather.
