Saudi Arabia Hit by Heavy Rain, Prophet Muhammad's Tomb Affected
Saudi Arabia – Heavy rains and storms hit Saudi Arabia in the past 24 hours have caused widespread flooding and damage. A video shared on social media shows heavy rain near a mosque.
Flooding and heavy rain have struck the northern part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, resulting in road closures and schools having to cancel in-person attendance after weather authorities issued warnings.
Video footage on social media shows flooding on Monday (April 29), in the provinces of Al Ula and Madinah, where the Prophet's Mosque, the second holiest site in Islam, is located. The place is the burial site of Prophet Muhammad.
Arab Saudi Dilanda Hujan Deras
This comes just days after neighboring countries, the UAE and Oman, were hit by floods, an unusual event at this time due to climate change.
In November 2022, flooding occurred in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, due to heavy rain, resulting in two fatalities. Floods in Jeddah are a common issue caused by a lack of rainfall.
Many cities in the Gulf countries were built without adequate irrigation systems because city planners in the 20th century couldn't foresee radical changes in a region mostly located in the Arabian Peninsula.
According to Saudi media, authorities are currently assessing the situation in affected areas.
The Public Security Authority is urging people to be cautious and stay away from valleys and water channels. They advise against crossing or entering those areas, and drivers are asked to be careful on rural roads.
The Saudi National Meteorology Center (NCM) issued a red warning for the Madinah region on Monday morning, predicting heavy rain and thunderstorms.
GulfNews reported that the warning covers Al-Ula from noon until 5 p.m. local time.
The NCM predicted strong winds, poor visibility, snow, and heavy rain with a risk of flooding this season.
Visitors to the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah were seen enjoying the heavy rain and praying, treating this normal activity with a ritualistic touch.
