EDIS Number: ST-20150211-46950-EGY
Date / time: 11/02/2015 04:25:17 [UTC]
Event: Extreme Weather
Area: Africa
Country: Egypt
State/County: Capital City
Location: Cairo
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: Moderate
Description:
Egyptian officials say Cairo International Airport was closed to arrivals Tuesday because of a developing sandstorm. Ihab Mohieddin, the head of the Egyptian aviation authority, said Tuesday departures from Cairo's airport have been undisturbed. He said the country's second-busiest airport outside of the city of Alexandria has been closed to arrivals and departures, and flights were diverted to other airports unaffected by the storm. The state news agency said Alexandria and nearby Dekheila ports also were closed because of wind gusts. The sandstorm hit Egypt Tuesday after unusually warm and sunny weather for February. The sky over downtown Cairo turned yellow and blotted out the sun, limiting visibility.