Rains trigger rock slide, floods

Light to medium rainfall fell across Jeddah and Makkah districts on Thursday causing a rock slide and floods in two different areas.
On Thursday, the Civil Defense in Jeddah evacuated two villas in Prince Fawaz Project after a rock slide adjacent to the houses threatened the safety of residents.
The rock slide was caused by the rainfall over southeastern Jeddah districts on Thursday. Rain also fell over Al-Rawabi, Kilo 14 and Al-Harazat districts.
The Civil Defense in Makkah rescued 14 people in five cars stranded by floods. The drivers had tried to cross flood courses, said Maj. Saleh Al-Olaiyan, spokesman for the Makkah Civil Defense. The department dispatched officials and vehicles to the entrances and routes leading to flood-threatened areas including valleys, he said.
The Saudi Civil Defense urged the public to be careful because medium to heavy downpours are expected over the western region.
"International weather stations have predicted the possibility of rains on Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Jeddah, Rabigh, Umlaj, Wajh, Yanbu and Duba, while the impact of the weather changes will be notable in the coastal towns of Makkah and Madinah provinces," said Col. Abdullah Al-Harithy, spokesman of the Civil Defense on Thursday.
The department was constantly in touch with the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment Protection about upcoming weather conditions, said Al-Harithy. He urged Saudis and expatriates not to visit floodwater courses and valleys, and to be extremely careful when picnicking in desert areas where heavy rain is expected.