5 die as floods strike Jazan

JEDDAH: Five Saudis have died in torrential floods in the southern province of Jazan on Tuesday night, the Civil Defense Department said in an announcement yesterday.

“Civil defense rescue workers have recovered four bodies of Saudis who were swept away by torrential floods in Wadi Lajab near Al-Raith in the Jazan province,” the department said.

“We have identified the place where the fifth body is laying and we are continuing our efforts to recover that body, which is located in a difficult area,” said Capt. Yahya Al-Qahtani, the department’s spokesman.

The department’s rescue teams began combing the area, where the five disappeared, soon after receiving information about the accident at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

“We sent some 30 officers to the spot to carry out rescue operations and were able to rescue one person who said floods had taken away five of his friends,” the spokesman said.

Al-Qahtani said two bodies were found at 3 a.m. about 13 km away from the site. “We resorted to the assistance of security helicopters to take the two bodies, which have been transported to the Beesh General Hospital,” he added.

The remaining two bodies were found at 8 a.m. yesterday at the opening of Wadi Lajab and were taken to Beesh Hospital.

Al-Qahtani said extended the department’s condolences to the bereaved families and urged the public to be extra cautious at times of rains and flooding to avoid deadly accidents.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Press Agency yesterday reported heavy rains in the southern Asir region including Abha, Khamis Mushayt and Soudah.