Saudi storm kills two, causes school closures and damage to the main highway leading to Makkah.

Travel delays have occurred in western Saudi Arabia due to the heavy rainfall.
Images from Jeddah show cars submerged in water.
Jeddah is prone to winter storms and flooding practically annually.
RIYADH: Heavy rains in western Saudi Arabia, particularly the coastal city of Jeddah, caused aircraft delays and school closures on Thursday, and at least two people were killed.

The regional government of Makkah tweeted, “Two deaths have been recorded so far, and we call on everyone not to go out unless essential.”

Both Jeddah, the kingdom’s second-largest city with a population of almost four million, and Makkah, the holiest city in Islam, are located in the Makkah region, where millions of Muslims annually make the hajj and umrah pilgrimages.

Many pilgrims use the connecting route between the two cities to travel to Makkah, but it was stopped on Thursday when the rains started, according to official media. It was eventually reopened, though.

Vehicles navigate a flooded street on November 24, 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after heavy rains. – Reuters
Heavy rain in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 causes flooding. It was reported by Reuters.
Al-Ekhbariya, a channel linked with the Saudi government, broadcast a live feed of Muslims praying in the rain at Makkah’s Grand Mosque, around the Kaaba, the cube-shaped edifice that serves as Islam’s spiritual epicenter.

Images shared online from Jeddah showed traffic jams and cars submerged in water due to the accumulation of standing water.

King Abdulaziz International Airport issued a statement informing travelers that “due to weather circumstances, the departure of several aircraft has been delayed,” directing them to airlines for more information.

The city’s schools were reported to be temporarily shuttered by the official Saudi Press Agency before morning due to the forecast of persistent rain throughout the day.

Rabigh and Khulais, two neighboring towns, also had to close their schools “to preserve the safety of male and female students,” as SPA put it.

King Salman proclaimed a statewide vacation on Wednesday after Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina in the World Cup, canceling final examinations at schools across the kingdom.

Residents of Jeddah have long complained about the city’s weak infrastructure, which has made it prone to frequent winter rainstorms and flooding.

In 2009, 123 people were killed by flooding in the city, while another 10 died in 2011.