(VOVworld) – Many countries are planning to evacuate their citizens from Egypt and the escalating violence there. On Tuesday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs raised its crisis alert in Egypt to level 4, the highest level. The Philippine government will cover travel expenses for its citizens to return home. Last night, Malaysian students in Egypt were evacuated to neighboring countries before they continued home.

Supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi chant slogans against Egyptian Defense Minister Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi before clashes broke out with Egyptian security forces in Ramses Square, downtown Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Aug. 16, 2013. Photo: abcnews.go.com

In related developments, Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood appointed its deputy leader Mahmoud Ezzat the new interim head of the group after its previous leader Mohamed Badie was arrested, according to the Middle East News Agency. On Monday, Egypt ordered the detention of 255 members of the Muslim Brotherhood pending investigation of allegations including murder, vandalism, and arson.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Dao Thanh Chung said 81 Vietnamese citizens in Egypt are now secured and Vietnamese agencies in Egypt continue their normal operations. Chung said with the bloodshed spreading across Egypt on August 14, the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt is calling for the Foreign Ministry’s order to make emergency plans to protect the embassy staff and Vietnamese community in Egypt. Evacuations have been prepared in case the situation worsens: "The Vietnamese government and the Foreign Ministry always pay special attention to the safety of the Vietnamese community in Egypt. Receiving order from Vietnam, we often keep in contact with Vietnamese people living and working in Egypt and at the same time continue to work out plans for evacuations if necessary."

When Egypt's political stability began to erode at the end of June, the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt began warning people to avoid going out and advised students to cut short their study and go home.