Safaga Is Demolishing Zarzara's Informal Houses — Because They Sit in a Flood Channel

Safaga's local authority is continuing to demolish informal houses in the Zarzara district, city chief Major General Ahmed Abu El-Haggag Donqol said, with the remaining homes now being cleared.

The reason is not cosmetic. According to the city, the houses stand inside Safaga's flood-water channel — the path rain and flash-flood water takes through the town. Safaga's position against the mountains makes it one of the coast's most flood-exposed towns, and structures in the channel are at acute risk whenever heavy rain hits the Red Sea hills.

What the city says happened first

• Residents were compensated and rehoused in replacement housing before demolition began, according to the city's statement.
• The work follows instructions from Red Sea Governor Waleed El-Berki and is part of the national programme to clear unsafe informal settlements.
• The city says demolition of the remaining houses in Zarzara is under way, with procedures in place to keep the work safe and orderly.

Worth knowing

The account of compensation and rehousing comes from the city administration itself; the affected families have not been quoted in the coverage. This site will follow up on the district's condition ahead of the winter rain season, when Safaga's flood defences matter most.