In Isna, a city in the Luxor province, three houses collapsed within a short period, raising concerns among residents.
The Ministry of Agriculture denied that termites were the direct cause, stating that the collapse was due to structural decay and high groundwater levels.
"We believe it is caused by termites," residents say.
Dr. Hamid Al-Daem, a professor at the Plant Protection Research Institute, explained that termites can eat the cellulose in bricks mixed with straw and grass, gradually hollowing out the clay from the inside, weakening walls and causing building failure.
Termites are easier to detect in modern buildings where they feed on wood, but in old brick homes their activity remains hidden.
