Nadia Al-Fawaz

Saudi Gazette

ABHA — The death toll from flash floods triggered by torrential rains in various parts of the Kingdom has risen to 20 with the Civil Defense reporting three more deaths on Thursday. Five other people are reported missing.



Rescue teams evacuated six villages in the southwestern Bisha province after a sand dam at the valley of Tabala partially collapsed, according to a Civil Defense statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.



Civil Defense rescue teams are combing flooded valleys to trace the missing people, it said.



Three people are reported missing in Aqiq, and one each in Khamis Mushayt and Hail, SPA said.



Authorities have been urging people to avoid the valleys and plains flooded by heavy rainfall, which has continued since last Friday. The country has not experienced such a high volume of rainfall for 25 years.



The Civil Defense said its operations rooms received 3,823 calls during the past 24 hours, and as a result rescue teams saved 641 people and gave shelter to 894 others.



People have drowned in several areas of the Kingdom. The deaths included five in Aqiq, three each in Al-Kharj and Al-Aflaj, two each in Hawiya and Kalah, and one each in Majma, Hariq, Madinah, Quwaieya and Wadi Taraj in Bisha.



Two people who were swept away in Majarida were rescued. A number of people who were stranded in two vehicles have also been taken to safety.



In Baha, the Civil Defense rescue teams recovered the body of an Asian who was swept away by flash floods in Wadi Al-Mazra. The body was taken to a hospital in Baha.



Lt. Col. Jamaan Al-Ghamdi, spokesman for Civil Defense in the region, said rescue teams are continuing their search operation for the second day on Thursday to trace two people who went missing in Wadi Ashab in Aqiq region. Nearly 250 Civil Defense personnel are taking part in the operation.



As many as 15 divers searched for the missing persons in the basin of Aqiq dam where the water rose to dangerous levels.



Al-Ghamdi said the dam would overflow to the valleys behind it if the water level rose by another 20 centimeters. “In such a situation, Civil Defense will sound warning alarms and people should not to approach valleys or try to cross them,” he said while cautioning people against going out for recreation to valleys or swimming in any pools of water and dams.



Meanwhile, Asir Emir Prince Faisal Bin Khalid has ordered airlifting of emergency aid including food and medicines to people stranded in flood-hit areas of Bisha region.



Following the instruction of the Emir, helicopters from the Aviation Security forces, started distributing packets of food and medicine in the flood-stricken villages east of Wadi Taraj.



At least 400 aid packets were airdropped by helicopters on Thursday.



A committee has been formed, comprising members of the Bisha governorate, Civil Defense, the Ministry of Finance and the Health Affairs in Bisha, to assess the situation as well as to rush relief supplies, said Col. Muhammad Al-Asimi, spokesman for Civil Defense in Asir region.



 He pointed out that the relief operations are carried out under the direct supervision of Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Shahri, Civil Defense Director in the Asir province, who has arrived in Bisha. A total of 129 people were provided with accommodation at furnished apartments in the region, he said.



The Emir also directed to carry out relief operations in flood-hit villages in Tihama Sharan.