JEDDAH: Torrential rain wreaked havoc in many parts of the Kingdom, especially the southern region, during the weekend, resulting in three deaths and flooding in dams, streets and low-lying areas.

Some Taif residents are, meanwhile, gearing up to seek compensation for the heavy losses they suffered due to the rain and flooding from the municipality.

A 45-year-old man and his two sons, about seven and eight years old, were swept away by floodwaters in the Al-Baidhani valley of Asir region. The Civil Defense found their bodies in a 15-hour search operation in the Al-Qarnata valley, local media has reported.

The Civil Defense in Baha received 1,280 reports of vehicles going under water, rainwater entering homes and shops, besides stone avalanches.

Nine dams including Jarb, Mashouqa, Malad, Al-Dhaian, Al-Taleeqa, Al-Haila, Mdahis and Alieb were flooded. The Aqbati, Husna, and Qulwa dams had to be closed.

Asir Gov. Prince Faisal bin Khaled ordered aid for the villages in the east of Traj valley that had been isolated due to the rain. A total of 722 food baskets were provided to 10 villages through ground teams in coordination with the Civil Defense and Finance Ministry. The Civil Defense rescued 100 people and removed 133 vehicles from flooded areas from different locations.

In Taif, which also witnessed heavy rainfall, the Civil Defense rescued 46 people and removed 77 cars to safer areas. The Taif Municipality said, “Rain accompanied by hail started lashing the province on Thursday, leading to flooding in the valleys. Areas like Centennial Square and roads including Shihar, Al-Jaish and Tohama particularly bore the brunt of the downpour,” it said.

Abdulrahman Al-Ghuraibehi of Al-Aqeeq neighborhood was quoted as saying by local media that the residents of the area are forming a committee to estimate the damage caused by the rain and will seek a compensation for the same.

The Taif Municipality, in a statement, apologized for the damages due to the rain and acknowledged that the sewage system in some residential areas could not be attended to before the rain. It, however, said that possible action, whether workers, machines and equipments to treat the flooding, was taken.

The municipality’s operation room received 250 reports and 90 percent of these were treated by 11 p.m. and there were no injuries or major damages. About 11 teams were formed, including water tankers with pumping equipment, to tackle the situation.

Al-Ghuraibehi said the extent of losses to vehicles is over SR200,000 and about 20 cars, most of which are the latest models, got damaged. He said food shops, salons and other commercial establishments were also affected.