Most Egyptian governorates were lashed by a wave of heavy rains yesterday. Roads were flooded and the ports of Alexandria, Dekheila and Hurghada were closed. Alexandria was hit by a wave of bad weather and heavy downpours for many hours in a row. The authorities at Boughaz (Alexandria) halted navigation at the ports of Alexandria and Dekheila. Traffic was brought to a standstill in most of Dakahlia's main roads. 13 girls were injured when a microbus capsized in Dakahlia in front of Ezbat el-Shawadir (el-Matariya province) because of the unceasing rain. Most of Beheira's roads turned into ponds and swamps, while the rain also led to the closure of the fishing port in el-Maaddiya. Fishing was brought to a standstill in Rosetta and Edko, too. In the Red Sea Governorate, the Red Sea Ports Authority closed the port of Hurghada and prevented the ferry "el-Muttahida 1" from setting sail on Friday at dawn because of poor weather conditions, with strong winds and three-meter high waves. The ferry was due to leave for the Saudi port of Duba. The platforms nearby the port congested with some 620 passengers. In Damietta, heavy rains continued to fall for eight hours in a row from Friday at midnight. The water level rose to half a meter in some streets and squares and trade in the markets was affected. Port Said was buffeted by strong winds after 2 a.m., while long heavy rains later flooded several streets in the city. In the governorate of Kafr el-Sheikh, the heavy downpours affected all the cities and traffic was snarled.
