Scorpions Unleashed | God's World News

Scorpions Unleashed

11/16/2021
  • Fat tailed20scorpion credit Guy20 Haimovitch
    The Arabian fat-tailed scorpion lives in semi-desert and desert regions and is one of the world’s deadliest. (Guy Haimovitch)

Heavy rain and flooding in a southern province in Egypt have devastated the region. Sadly, three people have died and more than 500 others have been hospitalized. Their injuries came from an unusual—and creepy-crawly—source according to Egypt’s state-run media.

The Egyptian province of Aswan experienced downpours, hail, dust storms, and thunder over the weekend. The severe weather caused power outages and required local authorities to suspend school classes, says Governor Ashraf Attia. But a more frightening outcome of the storms may have been the resulting scorpion invasion!

Egypt’s massive storms forced snakes and scorpions from their hiding places. The arachnids (in the spider family) scurried into houses across the province to avoid the rising water.

God created scorpions to be fierce predators. Like their spider cousins, they have eight legs. But they also boast the added features of pincers and segmented tails. The slender tail ends in a sharp stinger which can strike when curved up over a scorpion’s back.

A sting from certain scorpion species can paralyze or kill prey rapidly. However, although the stings of many species can be uncomfortable to humans, only 25 of over 2,500 scorpion species inject a venom that is deadly to humans. One species found in Northern Africa, the Arabian fat-tailed scorpion, is one of the world’s deadliest. Venom from these scorpions can kill a human in less than an hour.

Photos and video footage from Egypt have been circulating on social media. They show flooded streets and damaged houses, vehicles, and farms. Many of the images include large black scorpions. Residents of the area are being urged to stay home—and especially avoid locations with many trees.

About 500 of those stung by scorpions were discharged after they were given antivenom medication. The volume of scorpion-sting patients has doctors taking a break from vaccinations to administer antivenom.

Study the use of the word scorpion in scripture. How does God describe these amazing creatures? (See Revelation 9 especially.)

(The Arabian fat-tailed scorpion lives in semi-desert and desert regions and is one of the world’s deadliest. Guy Haimovitch)