Three people have died and 500 others were injured after being stung by scorpions in the city of Aswan, according to officials.
The Aswan region was hit by hail storms and heavy rain, which forced scorpions out of their burrows and into the streets and people's houses.
"Egypt's fat-tailed scorpions are considered to be among the most deadly in the world. Venom from a black fat-tail can kill humans in under an hour if left untreated. Symptoms related venomous scorpion stings can include difficulty breathing, muscle twitching and unusual head movements." — Middle East Monitor
The storms forced scorpions from their hiding places into many houses across the province, Gov. Ashraf Attia said. He said at least 503 people were hospitalized after suffering scorpion stings and that all of them were discharged after they were given anti-venom doses.
Health Minister Khalid Abdel-Ghafar said in a statement that no deaths were reported from scorpion stings.
A health official told Al-Ahram news agency that extra doses of anti-venom have been provided to medical centres in villages near mountains and deserts. Hospitals across the region are on high alert; doctors have been recalled from holiday.
Photos and video footage circulated on social media showed flooded streets and damaged houses, vehicles and agricultural farms.
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People have been urged to stay at home and avoid places with many trees. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) said the poor weather is likely to continue for the next 24 hours.
Authorities issued temporary road and travel restrictions and ordered schools to be closed.