Heavy rain disrupsts life in parts of Jeddah
Port resumes operations, but schools in the Red Sea city remain shut
Heavy rains have caused havoc in parts of the Red Sea city of Jeddah, creating floods more than a metre deep in some places, and turning roads into small rivers.
The deluge brought back painful memories of the tragedy of 2009.
A video clip that went viral on social media showed tunnels and streets flooded with water, with some cars submerged.
Traffic came to a standstill on some streets, and people were struggling to get on with their daily routines.
One man was pictured standing atop his car, surrounded by water, and trying to figure out his next move to reach safety.
Safety warnings
The Centre for Crises and Disasters in Makkah region closed a number of roads in Jeddah on Tuesday due to heavy thunderstorms accompanied by active winds that limited vision, Saudi news site Al Marsad reported.
The centre listed the names of roads, roundabouts and tunnels to be shut down for traffic until flood levels receded.
As a safety precaution, it also warned people to strictly avoid going down to the valleys or approaching floodwaters and water pools. The education district in Jeddah and Makkah had shut down schools and colleges due to the heavy downpours, expected to last until tomorrow.
The National Centre for Security Operations in the Ministry of the Interior said at least 10,902 calls had been received by ‘911’ operations in Makkah from the beginning of the rains until noon yesterday.
The centre said most of the calls were to inquire about the roads and streets that could be used for traffic.
It added that the Civil Defence had dealt with 241 rescue cases and that three men who were trapped inside a tunnel had been rescued.
The port of Jeddah announced that navigation resumed at 10.55am, following a drop in the speed of the wind to less than 25 knots and improved visibility.
Airline offers refunds
Saudi Arabian Airlines said it would not charge passengers who were unable to catch their flights in Jeddah and would exempt them from all restrictions and fines.
“Due to the heavy rainfall in Jeddah this morning, some flights have been delayed. In recognition of the circumstances of our guests, those who will not be able to catch our flights because of the weather and would like to change their bookings or cancel them and get refunds for their tickets will be exempted from all restrictions and fines,” the company said.
Some Saudis called for stringent action against officials who have allowed the rainfall to cause havoc in the city that greatly suffered in 2009 when dozens of people were killed or went missing in the worst floods in almost three decades.
The tragedy triggered lengthy court cases and deep controversy, and residents who were hit really hard hoped there would be no repeat of the drama.