Incessant Riyadh rains cause 217 road crashes

One person was killed and three injured because of the downpour that lashed Riyadh over the past two days, the police said on Thursday.
Lt. Col. Hassan Al-Hassan, Riyadh traffic police spokesperson, confirmed the dead and injured, and said 217 traffic accidents took place during the same period.
In addition, the police received and responded to 2,845 calls on its hotlines from citizens reporting flooding in their areas, being trapped in their vehicles, and about trees that had fallen over and disrupted traffic.
Al-Hassan said that the police's operation rooms have been working around the clock to respond to the public. The Riyadh municipality was also following up on citizens' complaints.
The heavy rain saw many roads flooded, causing major congestion in several areas on Thursday. A three-car collision disrupted traffic on Sitteen Street. Traffic also came to a standstill for some time on Khurais and King Fahd Streets, two of the city's main thoroughfares.
Heavy traffic jams were also reported on Khaled bin Waleed Street Road in Malaz district, Tahliya Street, exits 14 to 17 and many other places in the city.
Low-lying areas on the city outskirts were flooded with knee-deep water following the persistent downpour. The temperature also dropped substantially.
Ahmad Liaqat, a marketing executive, told Arab News: “After I left for home from Rowdah I got stuck on the Khurais Road bridge for half an hour.”
Tanweer Ahmad, an expat worker, told Arab News that the rain caused traffic congestion on King Fahd Street with vehicles moving at a snail's pace.
Abdullah Ahmad, who lives in the Manfouha area, said: “Cars got stuck on the road due to the heavy downpour.”
The Met Office said more rain would continue.