DAMMAM, 30 December — Heavy fog enveloped Dammam and Alkhobar cities yesterday reducing visibility to near zero and disrupting air as well as road traffic in the region. At least five Saudi Arabian Airlines flights were unable to land at King Fahd International Airport here due to poor visibility.
Three flights coming from Riyadh were turned back, while one flight each from Madinah and Jeddah were diverted to Riyadh airport.
An Air-India flight also arrived behind schedule, but the delay was reportedly due to heavy fog in New Delhi.
Flights from KFIA to several domestic and international destinations were delayed.
Since Friday night, the region has been experiencing extreme humidity and by late night a blanket of fog shrouded the twin cities. Fog is a normal phenomenon around this time of the year in the Eastern Province, but usually by morning the skies become clear. But yesterday’s fog was so thick that even by 11 a.m. the visibility remained poor.
Road traffic was in total disarray and motorists with their headlights on reduced speed creating traffic jams in several places. A few accidents were reported in the twin cities.
The Jubail Highway was congested with traffic, which was moving at a snail’s pace. There were traffic jams near the Industrial City on Dammam-Alkhobar Highway.
The two highways are the busiest routes during morning hours.
At least two accidents were reported at the Dammam-Alkhobar Highway and the Traffic Department had a tough time in clearing the road for office-goers. Alkhobar’s Dhahran Street, which connects the city to Saudi Aramco, was also a scene of utter confusion. Near the old airport, the traffic came to a near standstill.
The weather department has predicted more foggy days ahead, but hoped that visibility would improve.
Meanwhile, farmers as well as residents in the region are worried over a complete lack of rains this season. Farmers fear that their crops will perish if it does not rain in a few days.
