Search on for four still missing in Riyadh

Manama: Civil Defence units in the Saudi capital Riyadh are still carrying out a massive search and rescue operation spanning kilometres of terrain, waters and vegetation to find four people who have been missing since Saturday.

The operations were initially under way to locate three people who had been reported missing.

Only one young woman, a Yemeni living in the kingdom, was found lifeless after the floods carried her away from her helpless father as the two tried to cross a stream.

“As we were working on locating the other two missing people, we were informed that two more people had been reported missing,” Mohammad Al Hammadi, the spokesperson for the Riyadh Civil Defence, said. “We of course started looking for them as well. The search and rescue operations have not ceased and we have around 200 officers actively involved on the ground. They have aerial support from the interior ministry as well as help from canine units working with them,” he said, quoted by local news site Sabq on Monday morning.

Several private properties have been damaged under the onslaught of the heavy rain while underpasses were reportedly filled with water, blocking traffic and bringing activities in several areas to a standstill.

Frustrated and angry voices have called for a tough questioning of architects and contractors involved in designing and executing the capital’s infrastructure.