Six people drowned at different locations and hundreds of stranded residents were rescued from flash floods triggered by heavy rains across the Kingdom on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Civil Defense rescued 933 people stranded in flooded areas in various provinces in the Kingdom over a span of 18 hours as of Wednesday,” spokesman for Civil Defense Col. Abdullah Al-Harthy said. He said six people in Riyadh and two persons in Arar had drowned before anyone could rescue them.

Civil Defense centers in the Kingdom received a total of 8,258 distress calls during the period.

The rescue teams also retrieved 379 vehicles, including buses and trucks swept away in strong currents.

Al-Harthy said search and rescue forces are continuing their search for six missing people — five in Riyadh and one in Qunfuda.

Two missing people in Arar and in Owaiqila were found with their relatives, Al-Harthy said. “They are in good health,” he added.

While the Civil Defense center in Riyadh received 6,146 distress calls, teams rescued 329 stranded people and retrieved 167 vehicles stuck in mud and sand, he said.

The Eastern Province Civil Defense received 1,317 distress calls, rescued 458 stranded people and retrieved 162 vehicles, besides providing shelter to 163 people whose houses were swamped or damaged in the rains.

In Baha, at least six female teachers were rescued from a bus trapped in the floodwater while returning from their schools. Authorities received 139 distress calls and rescued 19 people threatened by rising water in the province.

Al-Harthy said 87 people were rescued in the Northern Border province after receiving 257 calls for help.

In Makkah, where precipitation was between moderate and light, Civil Defense teams rescued 17 stranded people after receiving 170 distress calls.

In the Al-Jouf province, 23 people were rescued and 34 vehicles, including trucks, were pulled out of raging floodwater. Authorities also provided accommodation for 175 families whose homes were damaged.

Al-Harthy said that Civil Defense centers across the Kingdom were ready 24/7 to handle any situation arising from the heavy downpours.