Local Egyptian officials were accused of corruption and waste of public funds in wake of investigations launched by the authorities about damage caused in the capital’s new neighborhoods due to heavy rains and torrents in some areas.
The Egyptian Administrative Control Authority (ACA) suspended a number of officials at the New Cairo council over flooding in some areas of the city, according to a statement on Saturday.
The authority said that, upon the directives of President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi, an investigation was launched to determine the causes of the crisis following heavy rainfall that hit several parts of Cairo and Giza, especially since the Egyptian Meteorological Authority had warned of unstable weather.
The accumulation of rainwater in the area of New Cairo sparked a wave of anger among a wide range of Egyptians, especially as the region enjoys a modern infrastructure and is planned in a way that was believed to be efficient.
Sisi said in a statement on Facebook: “I fully understand the suffering of some Egyptians as a result of the sudden and unusual effects of the rains in the past two days. I stress the State, with all its organs, will intensify its efforts to avoid the occurrence of such effects again.”
The ACA held three ministries and local authorities partially responsible for the flooding.
According to the statement, the accumulated water exceeded the capacity of some public sewers in the city, causing heavy damage in the drainage system.
It cited a lack of professionalism in the management of the crisis and the absence of coordination between the ministries of housing, electricity and transport, along with Cairo governorate’s administration, to take advantage of their capabilities and potential to avoid the effects of the heavy rain.
