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Egypt Independent
Thunderstorms and flooding in Egypt entered a second day on Friday, interrupting daily life in much of the country, including the capital Cairo, as the death toll rose to 18, authorities said.
Most of the fatalities took place in rural areas and run-down slums. At least six children died, either from electrocution or rubble after heavy rain destroyed their houses.
Since the rain hit late Wednesday and early Thursday, social media has been inundated with images and videos of flooded roads, villages and water-filled apartments in some of Cairo’s richest neighbourhoods.
Chaos always accompanies bad weather in Egypt, raising questions about the country’s poor infrastructure, dilapidated sewage and drainage systems. The government closed down schools, suspended work in public and private sectors after forecasters warned of heavy rain and flooding.
The floods forced railway authorities to suspend train services nationwide. Power outages were reported in Cairo and several parts of the country.
Cairo Water Authority announced it had suspended water service to the entire megacity on Thursday, because heavy rain had overwhelmed the sewage system. Water would return when the weather improves, it said, without offering an exact time. On Friday morning water had returned to some parts of the city.
