Saudi media reported on Thursday that one person died and another went missing due to floods caused by heavy rains in the southwest of the country. According to the newspaper “Okaz,” a 32-year-old man drowned while a search continues for another 26-year-old man who went missing after being swept away by floods in Balasmar, north of Abha city, specifically in Wadi Kharf of Horrah Balasmar center.
The newspaper cited an eyewitness saying that the two men had traveled from the Dawadmi governorate to attend their brother’s wedding in Abha on Thursday. With the heavy rains falling on Wednesday in the centers of Balasmar and Horrah Balasmar, they took an SUV for a drive to enjoy the rainy weather and crossed Wadi Kharf in Balasmar but fell victim to a strong flood they did not anticipate, which swept them away over long distances. One of them was found deceased and was placed in the morgue at Balasmar Hospital, while the other man remains missing. Civil Defense teams from the Asir region and other supporting entities, including volunteer groups, are still searching for him.
Heavy rains, ranging from moderate to heavy, fell on Wednesday evening in the Asir region in southwestern Saudi Arabia, affecting Abha city and the governorates of Balqarn, Tanuma, Rijal Alma, Bisha, Namas, and Tathleeth, among others. The rains also impacted several centers including Al-Janinah, Al-Nuqai, Al-Wadiain, Balasmar, Al-Sha’af, and Al-Mudah, causing valleys and ravines to flow.
Recent research and reports have highlighted significant concerns regarding the increasing frequency and intensity of flood events in Saudi Arabia, exacerbated by climate change and rapid urbanization. Studies show a rising trend in extreme rainfall events, which have led to increased economic damages due to flash flooding across various regions of the country.
Jeddah, in particular, has experienced devastating floods, heavily influenced by its topography, land use, and surface runoff, which combined with intense rainfall, pose serious threats to both life and property.
The overall impact of such extreme weather events is profound, affecting the socio-economic sectors of Saudi Arabia significantly. This includes the potential loss of lives and substantial damage to infrastructure, which necessitates urgent and effective flood risk management strategies. The government has been working on various strategies to mitigate these risks, but the increasing severity of these events calls for a systematic approach to enhance resilience against future occurrences.
