JEDDAH: Flash flooding killed a man and his three children in the Makkah region, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, said Thursday night at a press conference. Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, who is closely monitoring the situation in the affected areas, has issued orders to provide relief and all means of comfort to victims of floods and rain that hit some cities and governorates in the Makkah region, Prince Khaled said. Heavy rains again lashed Jeddah Thursday morning resulting in traffic gridlocks and closure of various thoroughfares and prompting the relevant authorities to declare alert to tackle any untoward incident. The heavy rain and gusty winds wrought havoc on the city's infrastructure, where 123 people were killed by floods in November 2009. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said that 200 people had been rescued from flood waters in Jeddah's Umm Al-Khair District and 12 others were rescued in other parts of the region by the Civil Defense using helicopters and rubber boats. The rain also caused the collapse of a house in Al-Sawa'ed District; a number of cars were damaged, most of which were in Umm Al-Khair District; and seven people were rescued in Nuwaibi' Valley in Rabigh, he told the press conference, which was also attended by high-ups of various government authorities tasked with handling the floods and rain hazards. A private injured in an accident was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, he added. A detailed report will be prepared on the damages incurred due to the rain and all efforts will be made to counter the probable hazards caused by the rains and floods, he added. Flooding caused by heavy rains snarled traffic and left residents wading through waist-high pools of water. Traffic came to virtual halt in several areas of the city after dozens of cars broke down. Many residents found their homes surrounded by water, which in some districts was knee-high and in others up to the waist. The morning turned to night as dark clouds enveloped the city for most of the morning. Rainfall in Jeddah led to the closure of traffic and the collapse of lighting conductors across the province. Muhammad Al-Qahtani of Jeddah Traffic Police said that main road tunnels were closed as a precautionary measure, while 560 patrol vehicles organized diversions in some districts such as Jack Street in Quwaizah, which was one of the most severely hit areas in the flood disaster of November 2009. “Some streets were freed of traffic while side streets were blocked,” Al-Qahtani said. “Officers were ordered to immediately close off any site where rainwater was collecting fast.” The Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) issued an extreme weather warning to the public consisting of thunderstorms, rain and high winds in the northern coastal areas of the Red Sea. The PME said it expected continued rain and thunder in parts of Makkah, including the coast. Clouds, it said, would extend to Hail, Qassim, Riyadh and the Northern Border province. These forecasts followed 70 km/h descending winds striking the Red Sea coast Thursday, with surface winds in the north, east, and center of the Kingdom stirring up dust and reducing visibility and a drop in temperatures in the north and north-west of the Kingdom. Meanwhile, air navigations returned to normal at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammad Bin Abdul Aziz Airport in Madina. Air operations at these airports were stopped due to bad weather conditions that necessitated diversion of flights to nearby airports, said Khalid Bin Abdullah Al-Khaibari, spokesman for the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA). Civil Defense out in thousands The Civil Defense in Makkah said that some 5,000 officers were dispatched across the region to respond to the weather conditions. No deaths, however, were reported as of early Thursday afternoon. Adil Al-Zamzami, head of Makkah Civil Defense, said however that six person required rescuing after finding themselves trapped by rainwater flooding. “We have 5,000 officers out there along with equipment and machinery, but we haven't had any reports yet of severe flooding carrying vehicles or people away, other than in some valley areas of Rabegh,” Al-Zamzami said. “We have sent out vehicles with warning sirens to respond immediately to any incidents and loudspeakers incase we need to order urgent evacuations.” Three meter waves on Red Sea The Makkah Border Guard ordered all seafarers to proceed with extreme caution due to precarious weather conditions, which saw waves reaching up to three meters in height. “All our boats and vessels and land crews are working around the clock to respond to any emergency call for help from persons at sea,” said Border Guard spokesman Salih Al-Shehri. “We also have in place plans to coordinate with the relevant authorities and intervene swiftly in any rescue operation from floods or rains. Health Affairs prepares line of defense Jeddah Health Affairs put all government and private bodies on alert in expectation of chaos provoked by heavy rain. “We have prepared beds in hospital intensive care sections and prepared units of blood along with a medical supplies vehicle to respond to urgent calls should there be a need,” said Abdul Rahman Al-Sahafi, the chief public relations officer at Jeddah Health Affairs. “All hospitals and medical teams are on standby, with the first line of defense at the King Fahd, King Abdul Aziz and Al-Thagr hospitals, and the second line at the Ministry of Health specialist hospitals along with private facilities.” Meanwhile, Jeddah Mayoralty has ordered intensification of fumigation operations to tackle any possible outbreak of diseases in the aftermath of the downpours. Building collapses in Madina The Civil Defense said that rains caused the partial collapse of a residential building in Madina housing 13 occupants Thursday. No one was injured. A spokesman said that the occupants of the house in the down-market district of Al-Jarf had been found temporary alternative accommodation by the relevant authorities.
