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Rescue efforts underway to save a driver caught in floods in Saudi Arabia. Image Credit: Sabq

Manama: At least eight people, including an eight-year-old child, were killed after downpours caused flash floods in the western part of Saudi Arabia.

Several other people are missing and search and rescue efforts have been launched to locate them, civil defence officials said.

The heavy rain on Thursday and Friday damaged private and public property and officials have issued several warnings to people to exert extra care and not to venture near valleys where their safety could not be guaranteed.

One Saudi man was found seven kilometres away from his car after it was carried away by the floods early on Thursday in Al Qunfuda, the spokesperson for civil defence in Makkah said, Saudi daily Al Sharq reported on Sunday.

On Saturday morning, a Yemeni was found dead inside his car swept by the heavy waters in Al Qanuna Valley. In Almaa, civil defence servicemen have located three lifeless bodies in separate incidents.

A man was found dead inside his car washed away by the flash floods and efforts are being deployed to locate his brother who was accompanying him and ismissing.

The eight-year-old victim was at a valley with another child when he drowned in the waters. In Jazan, the deputy spokesperson for the civil defence said that six Saudis and four Yemenis survived the floods after they climbed to the roof of a house until they were rescued.