Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said preliminary water quality tests showed the environmental impact of a barge sinking at the East High Dam Port on Lake Nasser was limited and confined to the immediate area of the incident, while monitoring efforts continue.
The ministry said in a statement that Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam had received a report from the head of the High Dam and Aswan Reservoir Authority on the incident and the technical measures taken to assess water quality.
According to the report, specialists collected nine water samples from different depths and locations around the site to monitor water quality indicators and assess any potential environmental impact.
Preliminary results showed that water quality remained within approved standards, with only a limited decline in dissolved oxygen levels detected near the accident site due to a diesel slick caused by fuel leaking from the sunken barge’s fuel tank.
The ministry said the diesel spill remained contained within the port area and had not spread to other parts of Lake Nasser. Relevant authorities are managing the cleanup, while the Ministry of Environment is taking the necessary legal measures within its mandate.
Follow-up sampling and analysis will continue over the coming days to monitor water quality and detect any changes, with the results to be submitted regularly to the ministry, the statement said.
Sewilam instructed the High Dam and Aswan Reservoir Authority to continue technical monitoring and coordinate closely with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Local Development and Environment, Aswan Governorate, and other relevant authorities to safeguard Lake Nasser’s water quality.
The minister also called for an emergency meeting of the technical secretariat of the National Water Council to coordinate the response among government agencies and ensure that appropriate measures are taken within each authority’s jurisdiction.
The ministry said it is monitoring the situation around the clock, adding that current indicators show the environmental impact remains limited and confined to the port area, while field monitoring and water analysis continue to ensure that no contamination spreads beyond the accident site.
