A sudden sinkhole in New Cairo, east of the Egyptian capital, has sparked concern among residents and passersby, Al Arabiya reported Tuesday.

"The incident occurred in the Al Narges 5 district in the Fifth Settlement, disrupting traffic in the area, according to eyewitnesses," the report said.

It added that the apparent cause of the sinkhole was a leak from a treated-water pipeline and drinking-water pipeline.

The New Cairo City Development Authority said water would be cut off from the area and nearby districts until repairs are completed. It added that water trucks had been deployed to manage the impact and address the resulting damage.

Sinkholes have occurred in Cairo over the years but remain relatively rare based on documented cases.