49 people rescued from flooded valleys in northern Saudi city of Tabuk

Civil defense teams in Tabuk have rescued 49 individuals stranded in their valleys after overwhelming downpours caused flooding, reported Arab News.

With the assistance of the King Faisal Air Base they saved 41 in Al-Saro, Um-Barira and Shaqiri valleys in Tabuk and made a further eight saves in the Affal valley in Bidaa.One person died in Bidaa as a result of the floods.

With the help of the King Faisal Air Base they rescued 41 in Al-Saro, Um-Barira and Shaqiri valleys in Tabuk and made a further eight rescues in the Affal valley in Bidaa.

Maj. Abdul Aziz Al-Shammari, a civil defense spokesman in Tabuk said, “Thanks to the readiness of the team in terms of plans, rapid response and deployment in areas affected by floods, the civil defense was able to successfully undertake the rescue operations,” said

He added that “there are identified and detailed procedures in place, in coordination with all concerned parties, to cope with rainfall and floods.”

Al-Shammari added that the civil defense teams in Tabuk were braced to deal with all developments following information provided by the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection. 

They will carry on their operations until the end of the rainy season.

He called on all citizens and residents to abide by the instructions of the civil defense, and to abstain from going to valleys and places facing flood threats.