Severe flooding is being reported in Saudi Arabia, especially in the kingdom’s capital of Riyadh, with the government closing schools and urging people to stay indoors amid heavy rain. Flooding is rare in the country dominated by the Arabian Desert.
Severe flooding was reported in Saudi Arabia’s capital of Riyadh on Saturday with the government closing schools and urging people to stay indoors.
Flooded street in northern Riyadh, on November 17, 2013, after heavy rains fell overnight in the Saudi capital, caused floods and traffic jams.
Lightnings struck most of Riyadh’s high-rise towers during bad weather conditions that hit the Gulf Kingdom on Saturday.
Meanwhile, witnesses reported that villagers 70 kilometres west of Ha’il were taking shelter on the rooftops of houses, mosques, and even mountaintops as the flooding began.
The desert kingdom has in the past been criticized for its lack of preparedness for such situations, as flooding is rare in that part of the world.
Residents were killed during flash floods in Riyadh, Baha, and Ha’il on May 13. The rain was reportedly the heaviest in more than 25 years.
Floods in the port city of Jeddah, located on the Red Sea, killed 123 people in 2009 and 10 others in 2011.
Recent Comments