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Torrential rain pounds parts of Saudi, leaves five dead

Saudi Arabia is experiencing heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and flooding at the moment, particularly along the Red Sea coastline, and the UAE’s National Meteorology Centre says that the disruptive weather could mean rain in the UAE this weekend. Jeddah weather is usually dry, but humid in the summer, with winter months usually being very pleasant. Two other people died when they were electrocuted by a lamp post in the coastal city.

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Footage and photographs shown on Al Arabiya television pictured cars being swept along Jeddah streets and people using boats to navigate districts of the city.

The death toll from two days of rains and flooding in western Saudi Arabia rose to at least eight on Wednesday, including three children, public safety officials said.

Schools were also forced to close down because of heavy downpour.

With fears of more rain, the education department announced that Jeddah schools, shut since Tuesday, will stay closed until Thursday.

“Air traffic is now back to normal”, the airport said on Tuesday afternoon.

A number of Saudi provinces, especially areas in Makkah and Jeddah, have been witnessing strong winds and heavy rain this week.

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Floods killed 123 people in the Red Sea city in 2009, and about 10 people two years later.

Flooding in Saudi Arabia could mean rain in the UAE