Several missing as heavy rains and flash floods hit Qunfudah

Jeddah/Abha, Aug 4: Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal was personally following up the search operation for several people who went missing during the heavy rains that lashed Qunfudah governorate over the past two days.

Civil Defense spokesman Col. Saeed Sarhan said rescue teams were dispatched to several locations after two people had been reported missing.

A Saudi young man was found dead seven kilometers away from his car that was washed away by flash floods near Nekhal valley in Abha on Friday.

The 19-year-old went missing while he was on his way to perform the late night prayers at a local mosque. His car was found in a remote area. Hundreds of villagers took part in the search operation to find him.

The body of a Yemeni man was found Saturday morning inside his car that was swept off near Qanoona village in the east of Qunfudah governorate.

Meanwhile, a Saudi man in his 60s was washed away with his car by a flood at Barqan Valley in Asir, according to Asir Civil Defense acting spokesman Lt. Col. Maeed Al-Shehri.

Heavy rains created chaos on several roads of Makkah city on Friday, Al-Madinah newspaper reported.

Several main streets, especially in the southern part of the city, were inundated causing heavy traffic jams in many locations.

Lt. Col. Ali Al-Zahrani, spokesman for the traffic police in Makkah, said the department dispatched more teams to main streets and the central area around the Grand Mosque.

Makkah Civil Defense spokesman Maj. Gen. Salih Al-Alyani said the Civil Defense sent text messages warning people in Makkah to stay away from valleys and floods. He added all Civil Defense squads were put on high alert and several teams were sent to valleys to warn people against possible floods. The teams will remain in their posts until further notice.

In the Grand Mosque, the cleaning department used 300 machines and over 700 workers to remove water inside the Grand Mosque and the courtyards outside. All carpets inside were replaced with anti-skid plastic mats.

In King Abdullah Medical City, the medical staff had to transfer patients in the recovery unit to other rooms after rainwater leaked from the unit’s ceiling.

The director of cleaning at Makkah Municipality said more trucks and street cleaners were used to remove garbage and drain pools of water created by rains. He noted that 10 water tankers were used to drain the streets.

The man's body was found six kilometers away from his car.