A truck driver who attempted to cross a flooded river in the Al-Jouf valley in Qunfudah was washed away along with the truck, said Col. Saeed Sarhan, Makkah Civil Defense spokesman, in a statement.

“The Al-Jouf valley was declared a no-go zone in a statement issued on Saturday since it had been flooded with water coming from the Asir province and other mountainous areas in the southern region,” he said.

“The driver died after being washed away by waters traveling at six kph. Civil Defense teams conducted a search operation throughout Friday night using advanced equipment, but the body was only found the next morning, along with the wreckage of his vehicle.”

The Civil Defense has urged residents to exercise caution when traveling near valleys and not to venture into high-risk areas.