Car engulfed in New Cairo pit was due to sewage works not landslide: Egypt’s interior ministry

Ahram Online , Tuesday 10 Jan 2023

Egypt’s Ministry of Interior stated on Monday night that the car that sank into a pit in New Cairo earlier in the day was due to repairs to the sewage network, denying allegations circulated on social media that it was a result of a landslide.

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ِA photo circulated on Social Media showing a car halfway immersed in a large pit of water on Monday evening in New Cairo due to repairs to the sewage network

 

On Monday evening, various photos were widely circulated on social media platforms showing a car halfway immersed in a large pit of water, with people saying it was due to a landslide from the accumulated rainwater.

“After examination, the car had fallen into a two-metre-deep pit caused by repairs to the sewage network that a company had carried out due to the flooding of the hole during the rain,” the ministry said, stressing that no injuries have been recorded.

The owner of the car, the ministry says, chose not to pursue legal action against the company after the latter pledged to fix the car.

The incident caused traffic congestion in the biggest street in New Cairo – Street 90 – until the car was removed.

Rain has been falling on multiple regions in Egypt because of a climate depression hitting the Mediterranean earlier this week, with the Egyptian Metrological Authority (EMA) expecting rains in various areas of the country throughout the week.

Egypt has no rainwater drainage network due to its high cost and infrequent rainfall, instead relying on the sewage network for drainage.

Alexandria – which tends to get the most rain anywhere in Egypt – is the only governorate currently building a separate stormwater drainage network.

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