Violent storms hit Egypt, triggering deadly scorpion infestation
Violent storms hit Egypt's southern city of Aswan over the past weekend, causing floods and triggering scorpion infestation that left three people dead and more than 500 others hospitalized due to scorpion stings.
The storm brought heavy rain, hail, and dust storms to the city of Aswan, forcing hordes of venomous scorpions out of their burrows and into streets and homes.1
Three people were killed and over 500 were injured due to scorpion stings in the city since Friday, November 12, according to the Al-Ahram news agency.
The deaths and injuries were caused after the bad weather drove the scorpions from their nests into people's homes.2
Those who have been injured are being treated with antivenom in hospitals as well as in medical centers that are located in more remote areas.
While media is citing unnamed health officials saying 3 people have died from scorpion stings, acting Health Minister Khalid Abdel-Ghafar released a statement saying no such deaths occurred. However, he did not give any details of the cause of the deaths.
People have been urged to stay at home and avoid places with many trees.3
Extra doses of anti-venom have been provided to medical centers in villages near mountains and deserts.
#Egypt : Health official in Aswan has told BBC that the heavy thunder & hail storm there washed scorpions into the streets & people’s homes – causing 400 people to be stung – in the rains scorpions seek refuge anywhere they can… #أسوان #مِصر
pic.twitter.com/zGbWzTNMQn— sebastian usher (@sebusher) November 13, 2021
#SevereWeather Major storm causes chaos in #Aswan, Egypt.
In the last few hours hail, heavy rain and gusts of wind have caused numerous incidents in the city. pic.twitter.com/s4s1luLYUa
— Meteored | YourWeather (@MeteoredUK) November 14, 2021
References:
1 3 dead, hundreds injured after storms rouse scorpions in Egypt – NPR
2 Rain, thunder to continue over parts of Egypt Sunday: Egypt’s Meteorological Authority – Al-Ahram
3 Egypt: Scorpions kill three and injure hundreds in Aswan – BBC
Featured image credit: Sebastian Usher
I wonder if events like this will intensify as we approach to the partial lunar eclipse and the relation with the star Algol?
My state has the worst mosquitoes in the union. However, scorpions beats mosquitoes for a plague, it’s not even close.