Saudi Gazette report

JAZAN — Three girls and one boy had a tragic end when they were drowned in a vehicle that was swept away by flash floods in the southern region of Jazan. Their father, who drove the vehicle, was rescued. The video clip of the horrific accident became an instant hit on social media when one of the witnesses took a video of the tragedy and posted it.

The tragedy occurred in Wadi Abu Hatara in the Mishlah village in the Sabya governorate of Jazan. The bodies of one boy and one girl were retrieved while searches are underway to find out the missing two girls. The injured father, the lone survivor of the accident, was taken to hospital.

The circulating video showed the inability of the pickup van driver to control it, while the vehicle was swept away by torrential rains and sank into a pool of water.

The tragedy triggered once again the 15-year-long demand of the people of the Mishlah village to construct a safe passage for them to reach home during heavy rain and flash floods.

Meanwhile, the General Department of Traffic warned the public against crossing valleys and reefs during torrents. In a statement on its official Twitter account, the department said that crossing valleys and reefs during torrential rains and flashfloods is a serious mistake that endangers one’s life, and is a traffic violation for which a maximum fine of SR10,000 will be imposed.

The National Center of Meteorology issued, through its early warning system, several alerts about the expected weather conditions during the coming hours in the regions of Asir, Jazan, Najran, Makkah, Al-Baha, and Riyadh.