ABHA, 7 April 2006 — Two Saudi teenagers from Tihama Qahtan, a village southwest of Khamis Mushayt, lost their lives as torrential floods in this southern Asir region swept away their car while they were passing by a valley.
Civil Defense officers found their bodies and took them to a nearby health center in Fursha. The officers also rescued 35 people caught in floodwaters. Heavy rains in the past few days caused the floods.
Maj. Gen. Saad Al-Harithy, director of Civil Defense, told Arab News that his officers were still engaged in rescue operations to save the lives of people trapped in floodwaters in Tathleeth. “In Balqarn, we rescued one Saudi who was held up in a valley and was taken to hospital,” Al-Harithy said. “We have also received reports about people being besieged by floodwaters in Bisha and measures have been taken to rescue them.”
Al-Harithy urged Saudis and expatriates to be cautious while crossing low-lying valleys in order to avoid mishaps and loss of lives.
“There are possibility of flooding in many parts of the Asir region because of continuous rainfalls,” he said, adding that his department was ready to provide any assistance required by the public. The Civil Defense chief noted the services of helicopter base in the region in the rescue efforts during floods.
Earlier this month, authorities found the body of a policeman, who was washed away in flash floods in Tanuma, a small town 110 kilometers north of Abha. Sgt. Muhammad Al-Shahari of the Tanuma police station lost his life while crossing a nearby valley in a car with his colleague. The second policeman was rescued.
Authorities have taken steps to prevent loss of lives during flooding by closing some roads leading to valleys. They blocked the entry point in Uqbat Wadi Dhalae yesterday and an official source at the civil defense said closing the way was essential to ensure the safety of people during rains.
Last year, torrential rains accompanied by flash floods hit the western and southern regions of Saudi Arabia, killing at least 45 people. In the southern Asir region, flash floods claimed the lives of 28 people.
