JEDDAH, 19 April 2005 — It was darkness at noon in Jeddah yesterday.
Visibility was becoming poorer by the minute until light showers swept the streets clean of a sand storm toward late afternoon. The drizzle lasted about an hour.
Traffic went through a harrowing time during the sandstorm that enveloped the city in a blinding blanket of darkness. Visibility was so poor that on many of the major roads cars snarled their way with headlights on.
Trees were uprooted and cars involved in minor accidents. On Prince Abdullah Road, the flow of traffic near Shaker Center was affected by an accident for more than 30 minutes. A Caprice was hit by a truck, and as the car swerved to its left it brushed past another American car that was in speed.
Weather officials said the rain was not unusual during this part of the year. However, what the city experienced was only a light drizzle.
“I could not see beyond a vehicle ahead and so I stopped my car the service lane on Madinah Road until visibility improved,” remarked Hassan Taher, a middle-aged Saudi businessman.
“It was difficult to drive even with the headlights on,” said Khaled Kurdi, a young Saudi driver.
Drivers complained that on some major roads streetlights went off suddenly adding to the confusion.
At some locations, hoardings and election banners were destroyed by the strong wind that accompanied the drizzle.
Air traffic was reported normal as the airport area was unaffected by the sandstorm.
