JEDDAH, 6 August 2004 — Eight Saudis, including a 45-year-old woman and her three-year-old boy, were killed when flash floods destroyed several houses and roads and interrupted power supply in many parts of the southern Jizan region.
Col. Ahmed Al-Sheani, director of Civil Defense in Jizan, confirmed that eight Saudis had drowned in the floods, which hit the region on Tuesday. Civil Defense officers have so far recovered seven bodies and a search was continuing for the eighth. According to a Red Crescent official, three people were seriously injured in incidents related to the flooding.
The floods, which were preceded by heavy rains and thunderstorms, inundated at least 40 valleys in the region and isolated four villages completely. Isa Ibrahim, a teacher at Abu Al-Qaayed school, described the floods as the heaviest in 45 years.
Eleven towns and villages including Sabya, Abu Al-Silae, Um Al-Qadab, Al-Melhaa, Wadi Wasae, Shahdan and Beesh were the worst hit. Citizens in Sabya said floods hit them in the night and destroyed parts of their houses.
Muhammad Zubaidy, director of the Commerce and Industry Ministry’s office in Jizan, said he and his family were caught in the floods while going to visit a relative to convey their condolences.
According to Okaz daily, the dead included Adnan Isa Harshan, 21, Mousa Muhammad Al-Naami, 18, Khaled Isa Harshan, 19, Muhammad Ali Al-Darbi, 28, Ali Muhammad Madkhali and Aghnam Muhammad Hazzazi, 70. Two people from Abu Qaayed village were killed while they were working in their farms.
Jizan Governor Prince Muhammad ibn Nasser urged authorities to mobilize all their resources to carry out relief and rescue work for the flood victims. He ordered three schools in Sabya to accommodate affected people. A committee has been set up to assess the damages caused by the floods.
The Civil Defense rescued at least 50 people marooned in the waters including 10 members of a single family. According to Al-Yaum daily, a Saudi family, who came from the Eastern Province in a GMC van, was missing.
Floods swept away a GMC van carrying 12 members of a family, who came from Qasim. Two girls died in the incident. Civil Defense rescued the remaining members and took them to Sabya Hospital.
A trailer truck carrying cement bags got bogged down when a bridge on the state highway collapsed. The accident disrupted traffic on the busy road. Jameel Huban, an official at the transport department, said efforts were under way to repair damaged roads.
The floods also killed more than 500 animals in Hajrouf, Fawarisa and Ayash villages.
“This year’s flash floods affected the villages which were spared last year,” the governor of Sabya told Al-Madinah daily.
