Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / MIDDLE EAST
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Tuesday, 25 January, 2005, 12:27 GMT

Flooding kills 29 in Saudi Arabia

Cars are swept away in flash floods in Mecca, Saudi Arabia Heavy rain and flash floods have killed 29 people in Saudi Arabia's western city of Medina, according to reports.

The storm, which disrupted the last day of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, is believed to have been the worst to hit the desert kingdom in some 20 years.

Regional governor Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz said another 17 people were injured, al-Madina newspaper reported.

The governor said the storm had caused enormous damage to roads, electricity and communications networks.

But he said the floods had not affected the thousands of pilgrims who came to Medina after completing the Hajj in Mecca and Mina at the weekend.

Swept away

According to the Arab News paper, more than 400 buses left Mecca for Medina, taking pilgrims to visit the Prophet Mohammed's mosque and tomb in Islam's second-most sacred city.

Prince Muqrin said most of the 29 people killed had underestimated the danger of walking or driving down Medina's valleys after heavy rains.

Among them were eight members of a 13-strong family packed into one vehicle which was swept away as it tried to cross a flooded valley, the al-Watan paper said.

Two people visiting Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage were reportedly killed and nearly 200 pilgrims injured when heavy rains hit the Mecca area on Saturday.

Although Saudi Arabia is one of the most arid countries in the world, severe rainstorms are common in the mountainous region along its west coast.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Saudi Arabian floods claim lives (24 Jan 05 |  Middle East )
Pilgrims 'stone Satan' for Hajj (20 Jan 05 |  Middle East )
Saudi lashes 'to silence dissent' (17 Jan 05 |  Middle East )
Saudis jail anti-royal protesters (12 Jan 05 |  Middle East )
Cold snap brings Gulf rare snow (30 Dec 04 |  Middle East )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Arab News
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©