Heavy rains in Asir

There is a possibility of unstable weather in most parts of the Kingdom today, the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment said in a forecast yesterday. A man reportedly died in Asir while a number of roads have been closed as a result of heavy rains. The PME and the Civil Defense Department have urged citizens and residents to be cautious about flashfloods caused by rains. Hussein Al-Qahtani, spokesman of PME, said the unstable weather would continue until tomorrow (Thursday) and would cover Tabuk in the north right through to Jazan in the south as well as Makkah and Madinah and their coastal areas. He also cautioned the public about the possibility of heavy rains accompanied by fresh winds and low visibility in most of these regions. The height of waves in the Red Sea and Gulf is likely to reach 1.5 meters. The Civil Defense urged the public to keep away from places that are liable to be hit by thunder as well as from pathways of floods. It has closed Hada-Makkah-Taif Road as a result of heavy rains. The department’s rapid response team has been working in the Asir region since yesterday to rescue people held up in the flooded village of Safa in Dhahran Al-Janoub. Lt. Col. Ahmed Aseeri, spokesman of the Civil Defense in the Asir region, said his officers had found the body of a person who was swept away by floods in Uqbat Dhalae. Police is still searching for another man who was found missing in Majarda following rains. Aseeri said the department’s rescue team is supported by emergency forces as well as necessary equipment. He urged citizens not to cross valleys while it is raining for their own safety. Residents in Asir, meanwhile, informed Arab News that there were landslides in the mountainous areas of Uqbat Dhalae but no one was hurt and no damage caused. However, it resulted in the closure of the Dhalae international road that links Asir with Jazan. In Najran there were reports of people being caught in floods in Najran but no casualties have been reported. In Al-Laith, a number of roads were closed as a result of floods coming from Taif mountains. Maj. Gen. Adel Zamzami, director of Civil Defense in the Makkah region, said his forces have taken all precautions to confront flooding and possible accidents. “We will coordinate with government and private agencies to deal with any unforeseen situation caused by heavy rains and flooding,” he said.