Egypt responds to reports of dam collapse in Sinai

Egyptian water officials have dismissed viral social media reports alleging the total failure of flood protection dams in Nuweiba, assuring the public that the infrastructure successfully contained massive rainwater surges following recent torrential storms across South Sinai.

Rebuffing claims of three-meter-high floodwaters breaking through defenses, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation clarified that all primary dams in the region remain fully intact and performed precisely as engineered.

Infrastructure intact: Assessing the damage

While rumors of catastrophic structural collapses circulated online alongside photos of eroded ground, the ministry clarified that the viral imagery actually depicts damage around a coastal bridge support on the Sharm El-Sheikh–Taba highway—a road structure outside the ministry’s jurisdiction.

The ministry acknowledged, however, that localized secondary barriers did sustain damage:

• Concrete and gabion barriers: A concrete barrier located 300 meters from the asphalt, along with a primary gabion barrier 600 meters out, bore the brunt of the runoff and will require substantial maintenance.

• Arab Hamdan protection: A third barrier situated 1,600 meters out—which intersects with the circular embankment shielding the Arab Hamdan area—is currently undergoing technical evaluations to determine necessary repairs.

Harnessing the deluge: 13 million cubic meters captured

The flood defense system across the strategic Wadi Watir basin proved vital during the severe downpour on October 27, capturing approximately 13 million cubic meters of rainwater.

To date, the ministry has invested LE 660 million into the basin’s infrastructure, establishing a network of 14 dams, 6 lakes, 20 barriers, and 3 Irish crossings with a total storage capacity of 32.9 million cubic meters.

Future expansion: LE 10 billion upgrade plan

Following the storm, specialized joint committees comprising ministry engineers, the National Water Research Center, and experts from Cairo and Ain Shams universities were dispatched to audit all regional water structures.

Looking ahead, Egypt plans to execute an ambitious LE 10 billion phased expansion designed to capture up to 76.37 million cubic meters of the area’s estimated 87 million cubic meters total flood runoff capacity. The initiative will introduce 9 new dams, 15 lakes, 14 barriers, and 20 stilling basins alongside extensive road protection measures.

The ministry concluded its statement by urging media outlets and the public to verify information through official channels and refrain from spreading unverified rumors.