Saudi Arabia: 3 rescued, 1 dead in flooding

Cairo: Saudi civil defence personnel found a missing person dead, hours after they had rescued three of his companions in a vehicle drowning in floods in the south-west of the kingdom, a media report has said.

The four were riding a GMC when the vehicle was submerged by floodwaters caused by torrential rains in a wadi (valley) east of the Tanomah governorate.

The three were rescued and are in good health, while the body of the fourth was found hours later, Okaz newspaper reported.

Rescuers and volunteers had thoroughly searched the valley. Later, they found the body of the missing person lying in the Wadi Tarj Dam in Tanuma.

Several areas in Saudi Arabia are experiencing thunderstorms until Sunday.

The Saudi National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) said the affected areas include the Mecca region with expected moderate-to-heavy rains.

In its report about Thursday's weather, the centre expected moderate- to- heavy thunderstorms resulting in flooding accompanied by hail and active winds in parts of the regions of Medina, Mecca, Al Baha, Asir, Jizan, Najran, Al Qassim, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province.

Heavy rains are forecast on Thursday and Friday in Taif, part of the Mecca region. Meanwhile, the Medina region is anticipated to see moderate-to-heavy rains Thursday and Friday, according to NCM.

Likewise, the Eastern Province will be affected by moderate- to- heavy rains, expected to peak Friday and Saturday.