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Flash flooding deaths rise to 20 in Saudi Arabia

Arab World Materials 2 May 2013 21:22 (UTC +04:00)
Saudi authorities Thursday said that 20 people had died in flash floods that hit several areas of the desert kingdom this week
Flash flooding deaths rise to 20 in Saudi Arabia

Saudi authorities Thursday said that 20 people had died in flash floods that hit several areas of the desert kingdom this week, dpa reported.

Rescue teams were searching for five others who went missing in the heavy rain that began on Saturday.

The authorities said on Wednesday that 13 people were killed in the downpours, the heaviest experienced by the Arabian Peninsula country in 25 years.

Footage posted on local social networking websites showed people and vehicles trapped in the rain.

Interior Minister Prince Muhammad bin Nayef said King Abdullah was "closely monitoring the situation and the efforts of the ministries and agencies to provide safety requirements."

Around 123 people were killed in 2009, when torrential rain hit the Saudi port city of Jeddah.

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