Stormy weather conditions in different areas of Egypt have left at least 18 people dead and 58 injured, as a fierce winter storm hitting the Middle East entered its third day, DPA reported.
The storm brought with it heavy rains and fierce winds, came amid unusually low temperatures in many areas, with some parts of the region getting a rare dose of snow.
Egypt, Syria, Israel and Lebanon, were all hit by the storm. Even Baghdad saw some snow flakes, though they quickly melted within hours.
Damascus, which has not seen snowfall in over two years, was covered in a blanket of white, some 70 centimeters deep, on Sunday morning. Accompanying rains and strong winds have caused road problems throughout Syria.
Syria's meteorology authority warned of hail, frost and fog until Tuesday at least, according to the state-run news agency SANA.
Seven people were killed and 10 were injured when a factory collapsed during a work shift in the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria on Sunday, the al-Ahram news agency reported.
The death toll from the collapse is expected to rise as up to 30 people are still stuck under the rubble, security sources said.
Heavy rains are being blamed for the collapse of the old building believed to have had a damaged foundation.
Weather related car accidents throughout Egypt are estimated to have killed at least eleven people and injured 48. Several Egyptian ports were closed and navigation at the Suez Canal, a key global trade route, was temporarily halted on Sunday due to the weather conditions.
Cairo's normally bustling, slow-moving roads were emptier since Saturday, as cold winds and a severe dust storm discouraged people from going outdoors. The meteorology authority advised people to stay indoors until Tuesday.
Rain and winds have battered Lebanon, with heavy snowfall reported in regions sitting above 900 metres.
Roads were blocked as result of a snowstorm, the National News Agency (NNA) reported, adding that the weather will improve in the country only starting Wednesday. Flights out of Beirut have also been disrupted due to the weather.
After months of drought, heavy storms lashed Lebanon Friday night, causing material damage in different regions across the country.
Israel also saw strong storms that caused damaged over the weekend.
Winter storm wreaks havoc on several Mideast countries
Stormy weather conditions in different areas of Egypt have left at least 18 people dead and 58 injured, as a fierce winter storm hitting the Middle East entered its third day.
