Saudi Arabia on High Alert elevated its security status to the highest level as areas across several regions of the Kingdom flooded after heavy rains swept through the country. The Saudi Civil Defense has given severe alerts calling on the people of KSA to be very careful and go out of their homes only in emergency situations. The rain which started this week has flooded drainages, cut some activities, and presented lots of hardships to rescue teams.
Regions Most Affected
Among the regional cities most affected are Jeddah, Makkah, and some sections of Riyadh. Coastal city Jeddah, which is familiar with the risk of flooding due to poor drain facilities, suffered from flooded streets, abandoned cars, and closed schools. The city also experienced huge traffic problems with pump and other machinery materials being used to remove waterlogging on the affected roads.
Another case was related to the situation in Makkah, the major religious destination in the Islamic world, where flood coming from time to time influences the availability of access to the Great Mosque. Footages making rounds on social media had huge volumes of water flowing through the streets, subsequently raising doubts about the security of the pilgrims when they visit the city.
Government Response
The Saudi government has assembled various teams and equipment in order to deal with the situation. The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing has implemented emergency measures; it has sent teams and equipment, which includes boats and helicopters, to the affected people. However, the National Center for Meteorology for its part has predicted more downpours in the coming days and called upon citizens to be cautious.
In the capital city of Riyadh, the local governments have provided tents to accommodate the flood victims. Civil Defense units are continuing to operate on a twenty-four-hour basis to remove rubble, pump out and evacuate water-filled districts, and provide for the welfare of the population.
Climate and Infrastructure Challenges
Extreme weather conditions are an emerging nature in Saudi Arabia and are frequent in the arid climate of the country. There were claims of the exceptionality of the rainfall levels, which various experts blame on climate change and weather change. The Kingdom’s infrastructure particularly directed to a dry environment has been challenged with such disasters and complications hence highlighting the hitches in the planning of urban centers and the drainage system.
The government has been dedicating lots of monetary resources to infrastructure development in line with Tanzania’s Vision 2030 but the recent disasters demonstrate that there is a need to step up improvement. Some of the measures that experts suggest paying extra attention to are improving drainage infrastructure and designing sustainable urban environments.
Prevention and Safety Information
Local governments have called on people to adhere to standard measures that would help reduce exposure to such risks to the least. Key advice includes:
- Never go out of your car through water-filled areas of the road.
- Don’t ever try to wade or swim across a fast-moving stream.
- Call emergency kits such as flashlights, first aid kits for emergencies, and food.
- Follow official communication through NCM and Civil Defense concerning updates on the weather.
International and Community Support
The other countries in the Arabian Gulf have come out in support of Saudi Arabia and have been willing to support the kingdom in the fight against the epidemic virus. Subscribers, neighboring local communities as well as charities have also come out on their own with serious humanitarian assistance to the flood victims.
Conclusion
While Saudi Arabia on High Alert is struggling with such record-breaking flood levels, citizens’ endurance and operational preparedness of the country’s rescue squads are being challenged. However, as the given and related issues are critical sources of the specified extreme climate occurrences, the Kingdom needs to undertake significant plans for rescue and relief as well as long-term prevention and management. This current crisis has indicated the more pervasive need for enabler structures and preventable climate change measures.
