Saudi Arabia’s weather authorities have warned of severe conditions to persist across parts of the Kingdom. Heavy flooding and torrential rains swept through Riyadh, Najran, Makkah, Eastern Province and other parts of the emirate on Sunday, disrupting daily life.
Footage of torrents of water rushing through the streets of the Saudi capital after intense rainfall went viral on social media platforms on Saturday. This was followed by a dust storm that reduced visibility in some areas. Forecasters also warned of dust-stirring winds across central and northern regions, with gusts over the Arabian Gulf exceeding 45 km/h during storm activity and Red Sea winds reaching up to 60 km/h in places.As per the National Centre for Meteorology, heavy rain would continue to affect Riyadh through early Sunday but would ease gradually. Residents in Riyadh and the Eastern Province have been advised to exercise caution and adhere to official safety instructions, by the Saudi Civil Defence.
Classes suspended for students in Saudi Arabia
Now, in-person classes at schools and universities have been suspended for students in the country. These include universities such as Al-Baha University, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and King Khalid University.
Education departments in the Eastern Province including Al-Baha and Asir shifted to remote learning via the “Madrasati” platform. Here, classes were halted in Dammam along with governates such as Khobar, Qatif, Jubail, Ras Tanura, Abqaiq and Al-Ahsa. In Al-Baha classes were suspended in central sectors and governorates such as Bani Hassan, Baljurashi, and Al-Mandaq, citing safety concerns. In Asir, the decision was applicable in schools situated in areas of red alerts including, Abha, Khamis Mushait, Ahad Rafidah, Sarat Abidah, Al-Namas, Dhahran Al-Janoub, Tanomah, Balqarn, Al-Harjah, Al-Raboah, and Al-Farsha.Authorities confirmed classes would continue remotely for students and staff in order to ensure public safety and follow meteorological warnings. As per the weather centre, most regions in Saudi Arabia are expected to experience moderate to heavy rainfall through Tuesday.
Saudi authorities on full alert
The Saudi Red Crescent Authority said it has raised readiness levels in Riyadh and declared a full alert as a part of its rain and flood response plan. “A total of 143 ambulance units and 25 rapid response teams have been allocated,” the authority said, adding that additional vehicles had been deployed to handle potential multiple-casualty incidents.The agency advised residents to avoid flood-prone areas and underlined that emergency services can be reached via the 997 hotline and through mobile apps such as “Asifny,” “Tawakkalna” and “Absher.”
