The governor’s intervention came after reports that the closing down of the flood passage was responsible for the destruction of several houses and farms in the flash floods that hit the region over the weekend.

According to well-informed sources, a former official of the Bisha governorate was behind construction of a barrier on the flood passage.

Faisal Al-Saffar, chairman of Bisha municipality, said that the municipality has opened the bridge in the wadi to facilitate smooth course of flash floods after demolishing the barrier. Infuriated over the act of the municipality, the former official is now planning to file a complaint against the municipality to the concerned authorities.

The recent flash floods have either devastated or damaged most of the bridges and drainage canals in Al-Sobaihi village, according to sources.

“A number of children were reported missing in the heavy rain that lashed the region over the last few days,” he said.

Referring to the malpractice of the former official, Al-Saffar noted that he obtained approval from the Transport Department in Bisha for the construction of the fuel station after shutting down the flood path.

Echoing the same view, Misfar Saeed Al-Fawaz, deputy chief of Al-Sobaihi village, north of Bisha, blamed the former official for the flood disaster in the region.

“While serving in the governorate, the official ordered to shut down the flood route in one part of the wadi to construct the fuel station on Bisha-Raniya road.

“This caused obstruction of floodwaters after hitting at the barrier and then changing direction to nearby residential areas and farms,” he said. Misfar Al-Fawaz also warned about the dangers of a huge pit that has formed as a result of illegal collections of sand in Al-Khir Valley.

“The recent heavy rain transformed the pit into a pool of water, posing dangers to the people in the area,” he said.

“There is widespread anxiety among parents that some children, who have been reported missing after the recent heavy rain and flash floods, might have drowned in this pool.”