2 May 2013

Fatal flooding in Saudi Arabia

10:29 am on 2 May 2013

Flash floods in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have left 13 people dead. Four more are reported missing.

Deaths were reported in the capital Riyadh, Baha in the south, Hail in the north and also in the west.

The Saudi Civil Defense Authority urged people to avoid valleys and plains that have been flooded by heavy rainfall since Friday.

Saudi television showed footage of people clinging to trees and cars trapped by water.

The rain is said to be the heaviest experienced in the kingdom in more than 25 years.

The BBC reports flash floods in the Red Sea port of Jeddah killed 123 people in 2009 and 10 in 2011.