Torrential rain pounds parts of Saudi, leaves five dead

Inclement weather hit many parts of western Saudi Arabia early Tuesday as the Ministry of Education ordered a one day school closure in the Red Sea city and surrounding areas delighting students and parents alike.

The six children who died in the provinces of Yanbu, Ha’il and on the outskirts of the coastal city of Jeddah either drowned or were swept away by flood waters.

Saudi authorities said another two children are missing in the northwestern province of Ha’il, while a third child was rescued from a flooded valley there.

Meanwhile, the rain in Saudi Arabia is so heavy that schools have been closed, while a few universities have also shut due to safety concerns.

Eight domestic flights were delayed there on Tuesday because of the rains.

The city of Tabuk near Jordan border witnessed heavy downpour on Monday.

Following cool winds, moderate to heavy rains would on Wednesday move east to the Riyadh region and other areas, he told Al Ekhbaria television news channel.

Floods killed 123 people in Jeddah in 2009, and about 10 people two years later.

The UAE’s National Center for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) has stated an increase of convective clouds on Thursday could make way for more rainfall by the weekend.