Egyptians weather sand storms which left dead and injured on Wednesday (Photo: Mai Shaheen)
Seven people have been killed in Egypt and almost two dozen others injured in separate accidents caused by blustery, sandy weather hitting the country, the health ministry said late on Wednesday.
A sandstorm has struck across Egypt since Tuesday, obscuring vision on roads and causing several sea ports to shut down nationwide.
Seven people, including a six-month-old infant, were killed and 21 others wounded in accidents caused by the harsh weather conditions.
The deaths were caused by the collapse of a run-down shack and the tumbing of a palm tree in two incidents, and the shattering of glass windows, health ministry spokesman Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar told Ahram Online.
The deaths took place in Cairo, North Sinai and the Nile Delta govern orates of Menoufiya, Beheira and Damietta.
Some incoming flights were diverted to other airports in Egypt but air traffic otherwise returned to normal, an airport official said Wednesday.
The health ministry has advised Egyptians to wear face masks when leaving their homes.
At least two ports in the Mediterranean, Alexandria and Al-Dekheila, remain closed for the third day in a row for safety concerns, head of Alexandria Port Abdel-Kader Darwish said.
Meteorologists say Thursday is likely to be the latest day of the unstable cold stint, where temperatures are forecast to dip to an average low of 6 C (43 Fahrenheit).
Early February marks the start of the Coptic month of Amshir, which falls between February 8 and March 9 of the Gregorian calendar, and is infamous for its blustery, sandy storms.
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