By Mona Yassin, Hamdi Gomaa, Nabil Abu Shal, Ghada Abdel Hafez and Nasser Al-Kashif 25/ 10/ 2008
photo by Ahmed Al-Masry
Rains flooded Cairo streets yesterday
A severe sandstorm engulfed Greater Cairo yesterday, blanketing the area under a layer of dust.
The sandstorm reduced visibility and uprooted some trees. Heavy rains, accompanied by thunder, fell in Heliopolis, Shobra, 6th of October, Alexandria, Port Said and Damietta.
The sandstorm will end within hours, experts said, describing the timing of the sandstorm as a transitional season of instability.
Rain fell yesterday in Dakahlia and Mansoura, which was paralyzed after streets turned into pools and swamps. The rain affected traffic and trade.
Navigation in Damietta Port was not affected. Rain fell in Port Said for two days.
In Alexandria, rain fell for an hour, but Alexandria and Dekheila ports have not been affected.
The sandstorm was expected and the Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) warned against that, head of Astronomy and Meteorology Department in Cairo University Magdi Abdel Wahab said.
The sandstorm came from the Western Desert, he said, adding that this timing is transitional and should be proceeded by rains and weather instability.
