CAIRO, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Thunderstorms and flooding that entered the second day on Friday across Egypt have killed 20 people, said Mostafa Madbouly, Egypt's prime minister.
Most of the death cases were in rural areas in Upper Egypt and slums in Helwan province, south of the capital.
The government closed the schools and suspended work in both governmental and private sectors.
The bad weather also forced the closure of major intercity highways and caused power and water cuts.
Madbouly expressed his condolences for the families of the victims, adding that the bad weather "has necessitated boosting the country's substructure."
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Friday hailed the Egyptians for their strength in dealing with the weather chaos.
Sisi said on his facebook page that "the Egyptians have proved over the past few hours their capabilities in dealing with the crisis."
