**FILE** Locusts fly on to Fuerteventura Island, in the Spanish Canary Islands, ... more >A locust plague has hit fields and farmlands in the Giza region of Egypt, just ahead of Passover.
Officials estimate that at least 30 million insects have swarmed the skies and landed about 15 miles southwest of Cairo. The insects are causing massive agricultural damage in the area, Alwatan News reports.
“Egyptian armed forces and border guards are attempting to fight the swarm with all means at their disposal,” said Egyptian Agriculture Minister Salah Abd Al Mamon.
“I ask the families living in the locust-plagues areas not to burn tires,” he said. “This does not chase away the locusts, but only causes damage and could ignite large-scale fires that would cost in lives.”
Officials hope increasing winds will carry the locusts toward the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia.
© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
Jessica Chasmar is a continuous news writer for The Washington Times. Previously, she was part of the start-up team for The Washington Times’ digital aggregation product, Times247. She can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
By Douglas Holtz-Eakin
The young drop coverage to avoid higher premiums
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
We welcome you to the intimate and personal thoughts on the news and events we, as editors, watch, read, and discuss with our writers every day.
Consummate traveler Todd DeFeo explores the unique stories that make destinations worth going to.
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
13 Photos
Vietnam Memorial adds four names
18 Photos
Cinco de Mayo on the Mall
11 Photos
NRA kicks off annual convention
8 Photos
California wildfires wreak havoc
37 Photos
