Saudi flash floods: One killed in Makkah

A man was killed after a tree fell on him during a severe thunderstorm that triggered flash floods and caused massive damage to houses and roads in the Western Saudi town of Makkah, newspapers reported on Saturday.

Police and civil defence in Makkah said they received more than 1,350 reports of damage to buildings, cars, public property roads and other facilities during Friday’s rain storm that also ravaged other parts of the Gulf kingdom.

Newspapers said Makkah’s prince held an emergency meeting early Saturday and ordered the formation of a committee to assess damage in the city.

“The rain that hit Makkah on Friday has not been seen in the city for many years…a large number of buildings, roads, cars and other sites have been damaged,” the Saudi Arabic language daily Sabq said, quoting civil defence.

It said one man was killed when a tree collapsed on him because of strong winds in Al Mansour Street in Makkah, adding that power was also disrupted in many parts.

Sada newspaper said part of the ceiling of a shopping mall also collapsed during the storm, triggering panic among visitors as they stampeded out of the place.

Pictures published by Sabq and other dailies showed a large number of cars, roads and houses damaged by the floods, lightning and strong winds.