Flash floods in Kingdom kill 6

[Chief Editor]

Flash floods in Kingdom kill 6
By Abdullah Al-Oraifij

Saturday, 17 April 2010


115 rescued, Several missing...

ABHA – At least six people were killed in floods caused by heavy rains in parts of the Kingdom Friday.

Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Asir, said that two persons died during the flooding over the previous 48 hours. One was a 60-year-old Saudi male, the other a Civil Defense officer who was carrying out his duties.

Prince Faisal added that 96 persons were rescued during the same period after being trapped by flooding in the province.

“All missing persons have been found,” he said.

According to the Prince, the Asir region witnessed “unusually high rainfall not seen for many years” at the end of the week, with the water level at the Bisha Dam, the Kingdom’s largest, rising to three-and-a-half meters, requiring draining into adjacent valleys and farms.

“Camps have been set up as a precaution, but so far they have not been needed,” Prince Faisal said.

Some school buildings in Bisha were used to accommodate a small number of families, however.

With more rain expected, Prince Faisal asked the public to comply with Civil Defense measures for “the safety of all”. The Directorate General of Civil Defense has also called on the citizens and expatriates to remain cautious.

The Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) has forecast moderate to heavy rains for Asir and Al-Baha regions, the southern parts of Riyadh region, and the Eastern Province.
Severe storms with winds exceeding 100km/h in Hafr Al-Batin Governorate also resulted in several deaths, injuries and accidents.

A family of four died when their car overturned on Hafr Al-Batin-Riyadh Road.

A family of 13 members was rescued by the Eastern Province Civil Defense when their car was inundated with water due to heavy rains in the north of Al-Sa’eerah,.

In Riyadh, the Traffic Department has received over 9,000 reports of cars stranded in pools of water since the beginning of rains Thursday night.

An expatriate man has been reported missing in Nakhaal Valley and a search for him is under way.

The floods swept away a youth and his mother Friday morning in Al-Khurmah Valley.Meanwhile, a helicopter rescued six people from their cars that were swept away by the floods.

In Hail, Civil Defense divers recovered body of a 4-year-old boy, who fell into an 11-meter-deep pool formed by rainwater, after 15 hours of continuous efforts. – Okaz/SG

With inputs from Abdullah Aal Gamsha, Muhammad Al-Sare’iy, Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, Abdul Khaliq Al-Ghamdi, Fahd Al-Muraikhi, Abdul Mohsin Al-Harthi, Ibrahim Al-Hudhaifi, Abdullah Al-Magatti, Huwayyid Al-Bgumi, Hamdan Al-Sibei, Sultan Al-Jumai’ah, Saif Muhammad and Abdo Alwan