Alexandria's pipes run dry after fuel spill

Oarts of Egypt's Mediterranean city Alexandria and surrounding towns are without water for a second day.

Frustrated locals have threatened to stage a sit-in outside the offices of Alexandria Water Company if the situation continues.

Two days ago a fuel pipeline exploded, officials said, leading to an oil spill. This lay beside water pipes that supplied six water plants in Alexandria and Behera.

Families have been forced to leave their homes or hire expensive water trucks. When the water does come to the affected areas, tensions rise and fights break out.

Ibrahim Hussein, a resident of the Lauran area, is one of those affected. 

He made a complaint to officials who promised them access to water as soon as possible. But still the taps at Hussein's home are still running dry.

No one can endure this. Our lives have come to a semi-halt, and we do not know when this problem will be solved. Ibrahim Hussein, Lauran resident

"No one can endure this. Our lives have come to a semi-halt, and we do not know when this problem will be solved. We have run out of water, which we had stored and this is affecting children as well as adults," Hussein said.

Mohammad Rostom said that water officials had offered no solution to the crisis. Locals are left buying bottled water at vastly inflated prices.

Khaled Sultan, of Alexandria water company, said that water contaminated by petrol forced it to turn off supplies.

Managers are waiting test results from the department of sanitation before operations can resume.

Staff are also working to remove the oil, but the news offers little relief to residents.

This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.