Emergency in Jeddah as floods kill four people

Friday, Jan 28, 2011

Gulf News

search continues for child who fell into a tunnel

Riyadh Rescue operations will still underway yesterday for flood victims in Jeddah as Dr Sami Badwood, director of health affairs in Jeddah, announced a state of emergency.

The Saudi Civil Defence Department has announced yesterday that four people were killed and about 1,331 others were rescued after heavy rains inundated the city with flooding.

Nineteen civil defence helicopters were deployed in several hard-hit areas. Speaking from Morocco, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz urged authorities to take immediate action and any negligence would be severely punished.

Director of Civil Defence, General Sa’ad Al Tuwaijri said in a press statement that Jeddah would be divided into several areas and defence teams have been deployed. Accommodations for families affected by heavy rains and floods have been provided as well, according to Al Tuwaijri. Four people were killed by the floods and the search is continuing for a missing child who fell into a tunnel at the interesection of Hira and Prince Majed streets. Shopping centres and restaurants in Jeddah were closed Efforts to pump out the water have been very slow so far. Rain was expected yesterday for another 24 hours.

Over 150 people were killed in 2009 after heavy rains caused floods.

AFP

Rope aid

Saudi men use a rope to cross a flooded street following heavy rains in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah.

AFP

Risky crossing

A Saudi man and a woman cross a flooded street.

By Abdul Nabi Shaheen?Correspondent