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Daily News Egypt
4 days ago
- Climate
- Daily News Egypt
Severe storms paralyze Alexandria with hail, flash floods, and power outages
Severe thunderstorms and hailstorms battered Egypt's coastal city of Alexandria on Saturday, unleashing flash floods, widespread power outages, and structural damage across multiple districts. The intense weather event, described as one of the most severe in recent years, prompted an all-out emergency response from authorities. Heavy rain, hail, and even snow disrupted daily life in the city, forcing Alexandria University to postpone final exams for the 2024–2025 academic year. Local education authorities also delayed middle school exams by an hour after the storm struck at dawn, causing chaos on the city's roads. The Alexandria Port Authority announced the closure of both Alexandria and Dekheila harbours, citing dangerously high winds and surging waves. Officials said the decision was necessary to protect maritime operations and infrastructure from further damage as conditions continued to deteriorate. In a statement, the Alexandria Governorate confirmed it had raised its emergency alert to the maximum level. Civil defence units, utility crews, and traffic police were deployed citywide to clear flooded streets and restore traffic flow. Emergency teams responded to a residential building collapse in the El-Raml district and reported partial structural failures in two buildings in the Sporting area. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The storm brought down streetlights, trees, and billboards, especially along the coastal Corniche and major highways. Several eastern neighbourhoods experienced power outages, and local authorities suspended fishing activities due to the turbulent sea conditions. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority warned that unstable weather would persist through Sunday morning, forecasting continued thunderstorms, wind speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour, and dangerous wave activity across the Mediterranean coastline. Citizens were urged to remain indoors and avoid flooded or low-lying areas. To ease pressure on the overwhelmed rainwater drainage network, local officials reduced potable water pressure in parts of western Alexandria and the Montaza district. Rapid-response crews were dispatched to remove uprooted trees, debris, and infrastructure damage to improve water runoff and restore road access. The Ministry of Health raised the alert level at all public hospitals and medical units across the city. Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar ordered full emergency preparedness for ambulance teams and medical staff. According to ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, all facilities were reinforced with additional staff and supplies. 'As of now, no injuries or fatalities have been reported,' the ministry said, urging residents to follow safety guidance and remain indoors where possible. Ambulances were pre-deployed to high-traffic zones and densely populated areas in anticipation of weather-related emergencies. In parallel, Social Solidarity Minister Maya Morsy activated a central operations room to coordinate with local authorities. Regional offices raised their emergency status, and outreach teams were deployed to assist vulnerable populations and provide shelter for the homeless. The Egyptian Red Crescent also mobilized emergency response teams to aid stranded motorists and assist with evacuations in heavily flooded zones. Wind gusts exceeding 50 km/h and torrential rainfall continued to challenge responders throughout the morning. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly's office confirmed the government is monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as needed. 'We urge citizens to prioritize safety and cooperate with emergency responders,' the statement said.
Egypt Today
18-02-2025
- Business
- Egypt Today
Egypt, Croatia strengthen maritime cooperation with strategic agreement
CAIRO – 18 February 2025: The Alexandria Port Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rijeka Port Authority in Croatia to enhance bilateral collaboration in maritime transport, logistics, infrastructure development, and technology exchange. This partnership aims to improve operational efficiency and trade connectivity between the two ports. Ahmed Hawash, Chairman of Alexandria Port Authority, stated that the agreement is designed to facilitate trade between Egypt and Croatia by exploring the creation of joint shipping routes, promoting mutual investments in port projects, and sharing expertise in port management, digital transformation, environmental sustainability, and maritime security. Hawash emphasized that this strategic partnership is expected to attract joint European and African investments, reduce shipping times between continents, and enhance economic integration within regional trade blocs. To ensure a swift and effective implementation, both sides will establish a joint committee to oversee the execution of the MoU, with technical negotiations set to begin in the coming weeks to determine priority projects and cooperation areas. Egypt's Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, highlighted that the MoU represents a significant milestone in Egypt-Croatia maritime relations, opening new opportunities for economic and regional cooperation. The agreement aligns with Egypt's Vision 2030, which seeks to position Egyptian ports as strategic trade hubs. Madbouly noted that Alexandria Port serves as Egypt's main maritime gateway to the Mediterranean, handling approximately 60% of the country's imports and exports. Similarly, Rijeka Port is Croatia's leading Adriatic port, acting as a crucial link to Central and Eastern European markets. Following the signing, the chairpersons of both port authorities affirmed their commitment to translating this agreement into concrete projects, ensuring tangible progress in maritime cooperation between Egypt and Croatia.
