Alexandria is facing stormy weather and heavy rain for a third day in a row, as an unusual stormfront moves close to the country.
The bad weather has caused flooding in a number of streets in the Mediterranean city, especially in eastern districts like Sidi Bishr and Victoria.
Tram services were halted on Friday due to the rain, and schools in the governorate will be closed on Saturday for the safety of the students, authorities said.
Residents living in affected areas shared online videos and photos of flooded streets, heavy rain and storms on social media on Friday.
According to the MET office, the UK's national weather service, Alexandria and Egypt's north coast as a whole are seeing the beginning of a very rare "medicane" storm.
A medicane resembles a tropical cyclone and it is very rare in the Mediterranean.
Heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected in Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories and Cyprus on Friday, the Met said.
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority said on Friday that Alexandria, the North Coast and the Nile Delta will face violent weather conditions, including heavy rain and thunderstorms.
On Thursday, Alexandria governorate issued warnings to residents, including asking people to avoid leaving their homes except in case of emergency, and to avoid standing under balconies or beside lampposts.
Egypt’s current wave of bad weather began earlier this week with heavy rain in much of the country. Cairo faced traffic jams and water-logged streets after downpours on Tuesday, causing some flights to be delayed at the airport as passengers were unable to arrive on time.
According to official statements, 14 people were killed in eight governorates between Tuesday and Thursday because of the weather conditions, including five children.
On Thursday, the cabinet directed government officials and bodies in coastal cities, in the Nile Delta regions, the Suez Canal cities and central and north Sinai to be on high alert.
The government also ordered local authorities to take all required emergency measures to prepare for the adverse weather conditions.
Also on Thursday, EgyptAir urged all clients departing from Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab Airport to be at the airport three hours ahead of their flights.
Maritime authorities had closed the ports of Alexandria and Dekheila on Friday but reopened them in the afternoon as weather conditions had improved, according to MENA agency.
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