Israel Locust Alert: 'Great Damage' In Egypt

An enormous swarm of locusts has descended on Egypt, with authorities in Israel worried they could spread across the border.

Millions of insects have already devastated agricultural land near the Egyptian capital Cairo by stripping crops.

Fears of a similar wave of destruction in Israel prompted the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to set up an emergency hotline.

It asked people to be vigilant in reporting sightings in order to prevent an outbreak.

The Times of Israel said an estimated 30 million locusts had descended on Giza, "causing great damage".

It quoted Salah Abad Almoman, the Egyptian agricultural minister, as saying the armed forces had been drafted in to battle the bugs.

Another newspaper, Egypt Independent, said up to 95% of the insects had been eradicated .

The locust alert comes ahead of the Passover festival, which recounts the biblical story of the Jewish exodus from Egypt.

According to the Bible, a plague of locusts was one of 10 plagues God imposed on Egyptians for enslaving and abusing ancient Hebrews.