Egypt: Heavy rains estimated to cost millions of EGP in property losses
Source: Middle East Insurance Review | Jun 2018
Rare heavy rainfall hit the Egyptian capital and other parts of the country in late April, flooding streets, submerging cars and damaging property.
The torrential rain forced authorities to close highways connecting Cairo to other provinces, the state news agency MENA reported. Rainfall caused some buildings, houses and bridges to collapse.
Compensation amounting to millions of pounds to individuals and companies is expected, with stakeholders waiting for a report from the Meteorological Authority on the damage.
Mr Alaa El-Zoheiry, chairman of the Insurance Federation of Egypt, said the risks resulting from rain would be covered by a rider, which is optional, to a property insurance policy.
The Egyptian government apologised for the consequences of the heavy rain that flooded the country’s governorates and streets, according to local media reports. President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi said the government would intensify its efforts to prevent a reoccurrence of the situation.
Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Mohamed Abdel-Aty met the heads of the irrigation, mechanics, electricity, drainage, planning and groundwater services to discuss the water situation and how to handle the expected rains.
Sources said that the heavy rains exposed a serious gap in the drainage system in the whole of New Cairo. The sources also pointed to a ‘lack of professionalism’ in the management of the crisis and the lack of coordination between the ministries of housing, electricity and transport, and the province of Cairo. M