'There is a lot of hope that we can now see the beginning of a new Syria,' says Pedersen
world4 days ago
A devastating sandstorm ripped through Egypt's capital on Thursday, engulfing the city in clouds of orange.
One person was killed and five others were injured Thursday when a billboard collapsed in a major thoroughfare, state media reported. The storm "crushed" four vehicles on the October 6 motorway in the centre of Cairo, home to a population of 20 million people, according to the state flagship paper Al-Ahram.
Traffic authorities worked to "remove the wreckage of the billboard and restore the movement of traffic", the newspaper added.
Videos circulating on social media show visibility dropping to near zero on roads and at sea, with terrifying clouds threatening to engulf ships on the Suez Canal.
Sandstorms regularly pummel Egypt during the spring, causing respiratory issues, according to the health ministry.
Authorities closed two ports along the Suez Canal on Thursday "due to bad weather conditions", including intense winds and high waves accompanying the sandstorm.
Reduced visibility during a similar storm in 2021 led to the giant container ship Ever Given getting wedged diagonally across the Suez Canal, disrupting trade flows for nearly a week.
Egypt's roads are notoriously dangerous and badly maintained, and drivers often break speed limits and other traffic rules.
With a population of more than 105 million, Egypt is the Arab world's most populous country.
ALSO READ:
'There is a lot of hope that we can now see the beginning of a new Syria,' says Pedersen
world4 days ago
Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket is a virtual version of the collectible card game that has captivated schoolyards since the late 1990s
world4 days ago
The complaint calls for the implementation of the so-called Leahy Law, which the plaintiffs and rights group say Israel has been illegally exempted from
world4 days ago
The bill, already approved in parliament but not yet submitted to the government for final confirmation, has stirred a heated debate in Iran
world4 days ago
Through his efforts, this 22-year-old man showed people that an ordinary person can make a contribution through sheer will and determination, says Canadian government
world4 days ago
Aftershocks shake the island nation overnight; people queue for fuel and essentials; US, Australia and France send aid, rescue teams
world5 days ago
The 53-year-old from Alabama is currently the only living person with an animal organ transplant
world5 days ago
Sara had been subjected to 'acts of extreme cruelty' but Sharif and Batool had not shown 'a shred of remorse', says judge Cavanagh
world5 days ago