By Majed Al-Nufaie
Okaz/Saudi Gazette
TAIF — At least 20 people were injured in road accidents following heavy rain and flooding in Taif on Saturday. The famous Halimah Al-Saadiyah Mosque in Bani Saad area of the city is in complete ruins.
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Rain that started around noon continued for eight hours flooding streets in Taif governorate on Saturday. — Okaz photo[/caption]
The rain started around noon all over the Taif governorate and continued into evening, inundating roads and obstructing traffic.
As soon as the rain started the Health Affairs put all hospitals and clinics on high alert as a high number of emergency cases was expected.
The Traffic Department closed Al-Hada Road as a safety precaution and redirected all travelers to Al-Sail Road.
Two vehicles collided on Riyadh-Taif Road near Al-Etaif Center during unstable weather. The accident resulted in multiple injuries.
Taif Red Crescent spokesman Shadi Al-Thubaiti said both vehicles were carrying families.
“We dispatched four emergency teams and a quick intervention team to the accident scene. We also requested the Health Affairs to send more medical assistance. Three women, three children and two men were injured in the accident. The condition of two women and two children was serious while the rest of the victims escaped with minor injuries,” said Al-Thubaiti.
He said all victims were taken to Prince Sultan Military Hospital in Taif.
Taif Health Affairs spokesman Abdulhadi Al-Rabie said heavy rain resulted in more than 20 injuries within a span of eight hours.
“The Emergency Cases and Crises Management forwarded several warnings issued by the General Authority for Meteorology and Environment to all hospitals and health healthcare centers to prepare for emergencies,” said Al-Rabie.
He added that the crises management, which runs a 24-hour operations room, will be in constant contact with various government directorates to ensure the safety and security of the general public.
“People are urged to be cautious and follow instructions issued by the Health Affairs and stay away from dangerous areas,” said Al-Rabie.
The flood destroyed the historic Halimah Al-Saadiyah Mosque in Al-Thuabah village in Bani Saad area of Taif. The floodwaters washed away the mosque’s ruins, effacing a heritage that existed since the first century of Islamic history. The mosque was named after the foster mother and wet nurse of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The mosque was vandalized throughout the years and the people of the area have been exerting individual efforts to maintain it.
Abdullah Al-Thuwaibi, Certified tourist guide and expert, said the people of the area have been demanding the authorities to interfere, maintain and renovate the mosque before it withered away completely.
“The people’s worst fears came true with the floods that hit the area on Saturday. The floods destructed the mosque completely. The authorities did not heed people’s pleas to preserve the mosque, which was considered to be a historical heritage,” said Al-Thuwaibi.
