A Scorpion Plague in 2021? What is happening in Egypt?
It’s raining deadly scorpions and snakes in Egypt. Yes, scorpions, the same creatures you probably saw in the 1997 film The Mummy. The scorpions on rampage in Egypt are called Deathstalkers, just FYI.
The creatures were washed out of their desert burrows and into residential areas after heavy hailstorm and flash flooding in the southern Egyptian city of Aswan over the weekend. But the snakes are the least of worries for the residents. Over 500 people were hospitalised following scorpion bites in just one night.
محافظة #أسوان في مصر ?? تشهد ليلة عاصفة، سقطت فيها أمطار غزيرة وثلوج مصحوبة ببرق ورعد مستمر، وأكثر من 100 حالة للدغات عقارب وثعابين، مع انهيار نحو 5 منازل وانقطاع للكهرباء. pic.twitter.com/M4FzkDaQQ3
— مصدر (@MSDAR_NEWS) November 13, 2021
Earlier, it was reported that three people died due to scorpion stings, but the acting Health Minister clarified that no such deaths took place.
Egypt is home to the world’s most deadly scorpions, 24 species in all. Some of these scorpions can kill an adult in just an hour without medical aid. In Egyptian mythology too, scorpions find a prominent place: the Egyptian Goddess of Healing and Magic, Isis, is saved by seven scorpions.
Now, this is the 21st century, and scorpions don't have much respect for non-gods, and Egypt is understanding it sting by sting. Netizens are flabbergasted. But scorpions are nothing new for the residents of Aswan, though the 500+ stings in a night are.
Me: Hey Twitter what's happeningBC flooding. Scorpions in Egypt. Liverpool bomb. Sean Chu still Ward 4 councillor. pic.twitter.com/9v2dtPNUhj
— ?Blocked ?by ?Devin ?Dreeshen. (@camusorbust) November 16, 2021
What if, hear me out cuz I’m an absolute HEATHEN, the “plagues of Egypt” in the Bible were just signs of impending, catastrophic climate change? A plague of scorpions is killing folks in Egypt right now. The center of creation of humanity. Plagues starting. Maybe I’m crazy. ?♀️
— THEE Tater Tots McGee ??️⚧️ (@transpotatoface) November 16, 2021
Some drew parallels to the Biblical story from the Book of Exodus. The story describes 10 plagues which befell ancient Egypt on the curse of Moses, the God of Israel, when the Pharaoh refused to free enslaved Israelites.
Here’s a handy guide to the “10 Plagues of Egypt” which you can print off & keep!?? pic.twitter.com/4uqWvHCFJy
— Jim_Slip (@jim_slip) January 11, 2019
1. PLAGUE OF BLOOD
In this plague, the Nile turns into a river of blood, killing all marine life and making the water undrinkable. Villagers suffer without their main source of water.
2. PLAGUE OF FROGS
The second plague to befall ancient Egypt was frogs. Egyptian cities brimmed with frogs emerging out of water bodies and plaguing the houses, beds and even kitchens.
3. PLAGUE OF GNATS
Gnats, small-winged insects, infested the towns of ancient Egypt in the third plague. Some also describe the insects as lice or other small insects. The insects covered towns and people like dust covering the swathes of land.
4. PLAGUE OF FLIES
Then came the plague of flies, covering the land, the people of Pharaoh and his officials.
5. PLAGUE OF THE LIVESTOCK
Moses brought upon the plague of the livestock where animals like donkeys, horses, sheep, hen, pigs, etc, died due to various diseases. However, the curse distinguished between the livestock of the Egyptians and the Israelis, leaving the latter unharmed.
6. PLAGUE OF BOILS
Moses cursed Egyptians and the officials of the Pharaoh with boils all over their body. Officials couldn’t bear to stand infront of Moses due to the disease of boils.
7. PLAGUE OF HAIL OR FIRE
When the Pharaoh still refused to let go of the enslaved Israelis after 6 plagues, Moses sent the worst-ever hailstorm to Egypt. Moses said every man and animal will not find shelter from the hailstorm and die in the fields.
Wonder if Egypt is currently being plagued by the 7th plague, once again, in 2021?
Just In A terrifying scene in Egypt, a thunderstorm, scorpions and snakes? #Egypt #Aswan #أسوان #مصر pic.twitter.com/ytQwhY1345
— أخبار الخليج العربي - GCC (@Tadawltwt) November 14, 2021
8. PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS
The God of Israel brought a swarm of locusts upon Egypt to eat out whatever little trees and fields were left out from the hailstorm. Well, the modern world isn’t too unfamiliar with a swarm of locusts. Remember NCR 2020?
9. DARKNESS FOR THREE DAYS
After all the death and destruction, ancient Egypt was cursed with pitch-black darkness, which could be felt. No one could move from their place for three days and no one could see anything around them.
10. DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN
Moses finally cursed Egyptians with the death of their firstborn child, from that of the Pharaoh’s, who sat on the throne, to the calf of a cattle.
Anyway. That was mythology with a sprinking of history. Scholars say nine of the ten plagues were natural disasters (except for Plague No. 10). With scorpions, hailstorm, rain, thunderstorm in one night, 21st-Century Egyptians might be wondering which goddess/god they've angered (and what they can do to please her/him).