Egyptian Minister of Agriculture Ezzedin Abu Stait urged on Monday all at-risk citizens to take necessary measures to prepare for possible floods with the beginning of the winter season approaching.

State bodies are always coordinating efforts to better deal with heavy rains and floods and prevent any harm to citizens or damage to their property and crops, Abu Stait said in a statement.

Earlier this month, the head of the Meteorological Authority’s Analysis Center Mahmoud Shahin warned governors across the state of this autumn season’s expected floods, which were estimated to begin on 22 September.

Hassan el Fouly, the director of the General Authority for Agrarian Reform, said directorates in Behaira, Alexandria, Beni Sweif, Fayyoum, Minya, Assiut, Sohag, Luxor and Aswan are urged to coordinate action with the irrigation ministry to handle the floods, clean canals and make sure warehouses are fit to store production equipment.