RIYADH (Dispatches) – Saudi Arabia’s Mecca, the holiest city according to Islam, has been hit by extreme weather.
Footage circulating on social media showed entire neighborhoods partially submerged amid the heavy rainfall on Monday.
Men were seen forming human chains to rescue children who had become trapped in the flooding in the al-Awali neighborhood, southeast of Mecca.
In another video, a man was seen rushing to the aid of a delivery driver who was toppled off his bike by floodwaters and was struggling to get up.
Multiple cars and even a tourist bus were abandoned right in the middle of a road as floodwaters gushed in unexpectedly.
Trees and debris were also seen being swept away by the raging water.
Several regions of the Persian Gulf Kingdom, including Mecca and Madinah, which attract millions of pilgrims annually for Hajj, have been hit by the freak rain.
Since the early hours of the morning on Monday, the downpour has only intensified.
The National Meteorological Center (NMC) has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and dust storms throughout the week.
Multiple yellow weather warnings for rain have also been issued in the last hour.
It is expected that the rare rainfall will continue until Wednesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The authority urged citizens and residents to follow official instructions, exercise caution, and prioritize road safety during heavy rainfall.
The public was also asked to cooperate with ambulance teams by clearing the way for them on the roads, the SPA reported.