Several roads closed in Egypt as torrential rains hit Red Sea

Several roads connecting areas along the Egyptian Red Sea coast with areas in Upper Egypt were closed after torrential rains hit the Red Sea governorate, which is known for its mountainous terrain.

Some damage occurred with no deaths reported in Safaga town, south of Hurghada, one of the main tourist attractions in the country.

Red Sea towns raise their state of preparedness every year to face risks posed by heavy rains, but this year torrential rains started around a month earlier than is usual.

As a result of heavy rains on Safaga-Sohag road, one of the four closed roads over heavy rains, an emergency committee was formed to check on roads and support people of El-Nasr village in Safaga, Hoda El-Maghrabi, head of Safaga town, said.

Emergency teams and equipment at main squares of the town are ready to deal with heavy rains, El-Maghrabi added.

Although many people in desert areas find torrential rains every year useful, as they can collect them in wells, dams and barriers to use in agriculture and for drinking over the course of the year, they can be deadly.