Torrential rain hits Saudi Arabia, causing major flooding

Torrential rain hits Saudi Arabia, causing major flooding

2011-01-27 11:54:10 GMT+7 (ICT)

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (BNO NEWS) -- Heavy rains on Wednesday flooded the streets of Saudi Arabia's city of Jeddah, exceeding the volume of rainfall recorded during the November floods that killed at least 123 people, Arab News reported.

In just three hours, Saudi Arabia's second largest city was inundated with 111 millimeters of rain, increasing from the 90 mm recorded in four hours during the Nov. 25, 2009 flash floods.

Mansour Al-Mazrouie, head of the meteorology department at the King Abdulaziz University (KAU), blamed climate change for the heavy rains in Jeddah. The average amount of rain during the winter months (November to January) is about 51 millimeters.

Eyewitnesses told Arab News that floodwater was turning streets into rivers once again, and that the water from a broken dam was flooding nearby neighborhoods. Cars were seen floating in some places.

Hundreds of students were stranded at various institutions. It was reported that three female students were electrocuted at KAU, but it has not been confirmed. Accidents in other regions as a result of the rains killed at least one person and injured several others.

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