Mecca submerges, incessant rains wash cars away, red alert sounded as devastation spreads
Floodwaters have inundated Mecca and its surrounding areas, including Jeddah, stranding vehicles and prompting extensive rescue operations, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reports. Heavy rains, thunderstorms, and hail have battered Mecca and Medina, leaving cars swept away, buses stuck, and people in need of rescue.
The holy city and nearby regions are grappling with severe flooding. Videos circulating on social media depict men forming human chains to save children trapped in Al-Awali, southeast of Mecca. In another video, a man rescues a delivery worker who fell off his bike and struggled in the torrents.
Flooding, while not uncommon in Jeddah, has intensified with no signs of abating. Trees and debris are being carried away, and rescue operations are underway. Saudi Arabia’s Meteorological Department issued red alerts for Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah, recalling the catastrophic 2009 floods that claimed over 100 lives.
These rains follow record-breaking rainfall across Gulf states in April 2024. Many cities, including Riyadh, Al-Baha, and Tabuk, are now experiencing similar impacts, exacerbated by underdeveloped drainage and sewage systems.
The National Meteorological Centre (NMC) has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms throughout the week, urging caution. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah advised travelers to check flight statuses. An extreme waterspout was recorded in Rabigh, the strongest ever seen, reaching the shore and generating waves, which researchers plan to study.
The Jeddah municipality mobilized 11 municipalities and 15 support centers to address hazards. Schools in Riyadh and Eastern Province moved online as public spaces closed. Earlier, April rains killed 21 people in Oman and four in the UAE, marking the heaviest rainfall in 75 years.
