BURAIDAH: Wadi Al-Rumma (the Rumma Valley), the Arabian Peninsula’s longest valley, is full of rainwater that has reached Buraidah and is moving 200 km east toward the Asyah region.
Hundreds of people received the lake — which had accumulated due to heavy rains that hit central Saudi Arabia last week — with cheers, as water calmly flowed under the bridge of Buraidah’s East Ring Road, leaving the city behind.
The Qassim province is divided by the Rumma Valley, which crosses the entire region from the west to the northeast, stretching about 600 km from a location close to Madinah to the Truayhat Dunes in the east and northeast of the province.
“It is not clear whether the water will complete its journey to Asyah in the eastern parts of Qassim province or whether it will stop on the eastern outskirts of Buraidah near the town of Al-Rubaieiah. It depends on the amount of rain during the next few days,” said Saleh, an old man who had come to watch the water.
The valley’s water had already made its way through the Qassim province passing Al-Bedayea and Onaizah.
“If the rain does not stop, the water will surely complete its journey to the northwest of Saudi Arabia as it had done in the past,” said the old man. “It was 20 years ago that I last saw a scene like this.”
Maj. Ibrahim Abalkhail, spokesman for the Civil Defense in Qassim, said, “We are closely watching the flow of the Rumma Valley and evaluating the potential dangers that the floodwaters pose for towns and villages on its course.” He added that all people and livestock along the valley have been evacuated.
Meanwhile, Qassim Civil Defense evacuated 1,130 people from towns and villages across the region, including Buraidah, Dekhnah, Dhariah, Al-Fawwarah, Al-Methnab and Al-Shumasiah.
Abalkhail said Civil Defense teams rescued 27 people trapped in a valley near Al-Malqa on Friday night. “Some others were rescued in Al-Khurma, where a power outage was reported,” he added.
In Asyah, rainwater flowed over Mared’s Dam, flooding a vast area around Ain Bin-Fuhaid and devastating roads ahead. “We are all working to reduce the extent of damage in the area,” said Asyah Mayor Abdullah bin Mahdi Al-Onaizi.
“If it continues to rain, then it is impossible to imagine the damage that might be inflicted on the region,” he added.
Qassim Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar ordered the establishment of an operations room to follow up on all emergencies in the area. He said authorities would pay compensation to people affected by the rains.
