RIYADH: Heavy rains hit the coastal city of Jeddah and western parts of Saudi Arabia, killing at least two people on Thursday. It also forced the authorities to shut the schools and delay flights across the country.
The Makkah regional government announced two deaths on Twitter. it also urged to stay home. The Makkah region includes Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city of roughly 4 million people, Jeddah, and Makkah city, the holiest city in Islam visited by millions of Muslims from across the world to perform annual pilgrimage and umrah each year.
Passengers advised to contact airlines for updates
The road connecting the two cities was closed on Thursday after the rainfall started, but reopened later, according to state media. In Jeddah, social media footages showed standing water on roads badly affecting traffic.
The King Abdulaziz International Airport in the city said that some flights’ departure was delayed due to bad weather. It has urged passengers to contact the airline companies for updates.
According to the official Saudi Press Agency, schools in Jeddah would remain temporarily closed until the rains stop. –APP/AFP
