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Heavy rains kill four people across Syria, Libya and Jordan
Heavy rains that hit Syria, Libya and Jordan on Tuesday caused floods and flash floods, killing four people. Neighborhoods in Tripoli were submerged, roads were closed and power cuts were imposed, while two children were swept away by floodwaters in Syria.
Heavy rains that hit three Middle Eastern countries on Tuesday caused loss of life and widespread flooding. Four people died in floods and flash floods in Syria, Libya and Jordan, while streets and homes were inundated and transportation was disrupted.
Emergency declared in Tripoli
Several neighborhoods in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, were submerged because of the rainfall. One person was killed by an electric shock, while buildings and vehicles sustained extensive material damage.
The state-owned Republic Bank said the deceased was its employee, Ahmed al-Shuweih. The bank said al-Shuweih was electrocuted by an electric current while heading to work during the rainfall.
The Tripoli branch of the Libyan Red Crescent declared the highest level of emergency. Teams were deployed to municipal boundaries in central Tripoli and surrounding areas, where they recovered the body of the person who had been electrocuted and supported medical teams in removing accumulated water.
The General Company for Water and Wastewater said the amount of rain that fell on Tripoli exceeded the capacity of the drainage networks. It said the accumulation of water in Martyrs’ Square was caused by the pumping station being unable to operate because of previous attacks.
The General Electricity Company cut power as a precaution in some lines, stations and areas to ensure safety in regions affected by the rainfall. The Souq al-Jumaa municipality declared the area a disaster zone and requested urgent assistance from the Government of National Unity.
Ain Zara municipality called on residents not to go outside unless necessary as heavy rainfall continued. Tajoura municipality also closed the Bifey highway to traffic because of accumulated water and directed drivers to alternative routes.
The University of Tripoli postponed examinations scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday because of the weather conditions. Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, head of the Government of National Unity, instructed relevant institutions to raise their level of preparedness, respond to accumulated water and deploy technical and rescue teams.
Two children swept away by floodwaters in Syria
Two children in the Maydane area of rural Raqqa province in Syria died after being swept away by floodwaters caused by heavy rainfall.
Authorities issued a warning on Monday about the storm affecting the provinces of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah in the country’s northeast. Infrastructure in the region has been damaged by years of war.
Search area in Jordan exceeded 19 kilometers
The body of a 23-year-old person swept away by floodwaters in the Ruwaished area of eastern Jordan was recovered. After the missing-person report was received shortly after midnight on the night between Monday and Tuesday, search operations were conducted across an area of more than 19 kilometers.
Civil defense teams and the Royal Desert Police found the young person’s body with the support of divers and specialized vehicles. The Public Security Directorate called on residents to follow weather forecasts and official warnings and to stay away from flood channels and valleys.
Warnings issued in Saudi Arabia, Algeria and the UAE
Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology issued warnings of moderate to heavy thunderstorms in parts of the Jizan, Asir, Al-Baha and Makkah regions. The rainfall could cause flood runoff, hail and strong winds.
Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense called on residents to stay away from flood channels and valleys and not to attempt to cross them. Warnings of light to moderate rainfall were also issued for parts of Najran, Medina, Hail, Tabuk, Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders, Riyadh and the Eastern Region.
Thunderstorm warnings were issued in several regions of Algeria, including the provinces of Béchar, Naâma, El Bayadh, Laghouat, Ghardaïa and Ouargla. Rainfall could reach 40 millimeters in some areas, where hail was also possible.
Some parts of the United Arab Emirates received rainfall on Monday. Authorities warned that flash floods could form in mountainous and low-lying areas, saying that heavy rainfall occurring over a short period posed a risk in valleys and low-lying areas.
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