Khaberni - The Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation denied recent allegations about the insect "white ant" causing the collapse of 3 houses in the village of Deir in Luxor governorate, confirming that field inspections proved these claims to be false.
The ministry, in an official statement, stated that an urgent committee from the Central Administration for Pest Control, in coordination with the Directorate of Agriculture in Luxor, moved to the site of the report, where they conducted inspection and examination operations in the presence of the mayor of Deir village, representatives from the Senate of the governorate, representatives of the governorate and the city council, along with a number of locals.
The technical report of the committee clarified that the real cause of the houses' collapse is due to the deterioration of the buildings, as they were constructed from "mud brick" which was affected by the elements and moisture, leading to the weakening of the structural frameworks and their collapse.
The Ministry of Agriculture emphasized that the white ant insect feeds only on "cellulose" which is found in wood and textiles, and cannot affect walls or concrete foundations or bricks, stressing that their activity, while dangerous to furniture, does not scientifically lead to the complete collapse of buildings.
The ministry indicated that it follows this pest regularly, explaining that it has previously dealt with 73 homes in Esna center showing infestations due to the mountainous nature of the area, in coordination with the Directorate of Agriculture.
It added that white ant control services are provided for free to those unable to afford it, according to an approved protocol which includes digging trenches around the affected houses and injecting them with specialized pesticides to ensure complete isolation, affirming the ongoing inventory of cases and taking the necessary measures to treat any potential infections.
The Ministry of Agriculture urged the media and citizens to verify accuracy and gather information from its official sources, not to follow rumors that cause concern, confirming that the control devices are always ready to protect the homes of citizens.
