MAKKAH: Heavy showers lashed the holy city on Saturday, leaving some roads flooded and triggering calls from citizens to take measures against rain-related woes.

The Al-Maabda, Al-Sharae’, Al-Meisim, Al-Shawqiya and Al-Zaher neighborhoods particularly bore the brunt of the rain fury that left streets flooded and slowed down vehicular traffic, especially on Haj Road and the road parallel to Mount Al-Noor, a local newspaper said Sunday.

Citizens called on the municipality to ensure drainage for rainwater is in working condition. They also demanded that cement embankments be erected to prevent landslips on mountain slopes after rains.

Saad Al-Harbi and Jamal Abu Sanad were quoted as saying that Haj Road and the Al-Khanisa neighborhood, as well as Wadi Jalil, suffer from flooding and accumulation of mud and sand after rains.

On the positive side, Saturday's rain brought cheers to the villages in eastern Makkah with valleys presenting beautiful waterfalls. Traffic police personnel fanned out across the streets that link the Makkah-Taif bypass, where a large number of people gathered to witness the waterfalls in the valley.

Abdulwahhab Shalabi, spokesman for the Makkah health department, said hospital emergency rooms are ready to treat any rain-related case.

Capt. Raed Al-Sharif, spokesman for Civil Defense in Makkah, said the control and leadership center in the directorate had received a warning from the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment about the rain and thunderstorm. “An emergency plan, which included deploying teams in predetermined locations, was applied.”

He said the intensity of the rain varied from medium to heavy and at different locations of the holy city, and the majority of calls to the control room were dealt with. Electricity problems were dealt with in coordination with relevant authorities, he added.

He called on citizens and residents to take precautions and stay away from the areas prone to flooding and temporary or flimsy structures, especially if there is strong wind.