Rain and floods submerge roads in Mahd Al-Dahab

Salma Al-Maghmasi Okaz/Saudi Gazette MAHD AL-DAHAB — For the first time in more than 20 years, water has flowed over the Wadi Baidhan Dam near Mahd Al-Dahab in Madinah region, submerging a number of roads and disrupting traffic. The level of water in the 9-meter high dam reached more than seven meters and started to overflow. The traffic police prevented the buses transporting women teachers and girl students from using Mahd Al-Dahab-Safina road for their safety. The traffic police and the Civil Defense personnel were stationed along many roads to prevent motorists from using them. The Madnah region received heavy rain during the past few days, flooding valleys and inundating streets. The rain, according to a number of residents, has exposed the fragility of the roads, which were badly asphalted. Director of Roads and Transport in Madinah Abdullah Al-Ahmadi said the traffic on major roads including the Makkah-Madinah expressway was normal. He added that the grouping of the visiting pilgrims went on smoothly. He, however, said there are substitute roads for the pilgrims to use at times of emergency including the Hijra road and the Madinah-Yanbu-Rabigh road.