MAKKAH: All six members of a Bangladeshi family died when their house collapsed in the Al-Kakia district of Makkah on Sunday morning. The house is thought to have collapsed following heavy rains the night before.

The site of the collapsed house was attended by four Civil Defense teams led by Col. Jameel Al-Arbaeen, director of the Civil Defense in Makkah.

The Civil Defense said it recovered six bodies, adding that there is no sign of foul play and that a committee of engineers has been formed to investigate how the house collapsed.

Eyewitnesses told Arab News that the family — comprising a couple and their four children (aged five, seven, eight and 13) — lived in a poorly constructed home built in the corner of an empty plot of land.

The father worked as a security guard, looking after the land. Residents said they heard the house collapse, which made a loud noise accompanied by sounds of people screaming. Neighbors called the Civil Defense at 11.30 am.

Meanwhile, the Rain and Flood Committee at Taif Municipality has announced a state of emergency following heavy rains in Taif and its nearby villages on Saturday.

Mayor of Taif Muhammad Al-Mukhrej ordered a state of maximum alert and called on all related agencies to do their best to minimize the affects of heavy rains and flash floods.

“Municipal workers and equipment have been sent to all locations. No area has been overlooked. The control room has been receiving reports about people affected by the rains and flooding, and we are sending rescue teams along with relief to help them around the clock,” said Al-Mukhrej.

“A sufficient number of workers and machinery have also been sent to clean streets and remove fallen trees, mud and boulders,” he added.

The floodwaters have left a lot of debris, especially on Kara Road. A number of water trucks equipped with pumps are working to ensure tunnels, particularly the Al-Muatamarat Tunnel, do not become flooded with water.

More than 5,000 cubic meters of rainwater has been pumped out of Taif’s streets, which do not have proper drainage, he added.

The Presidency of Meteorology and Environment has sent warning to people about heavy rains. Nineteen road accidents were recorded in the Makkah and Bahrah area with numerous motorists stuck in their cars on roads. The Civil Defense said it had also rescued 48 stranded people and called on members of the public not to go camping or visit areas prone to flooding.

— With input from Suleiman Al-Diyabi