JAZAN - Two people were killed when their car was washed away by the floods in Jazan, a number of houses destroyed and various areas in the region left without electricity for long hours due to the heavy rains and the sandstorm that hit the region on Saturday. Eight people in a car ventured to cross wadi Al-Midkhal ignoring the repeated warnings of the Civil Defense but their vehicle was immediately washed away. According to the Civil Defense, when the vehicle was midway, two of the passengers fell into the water and were lost. The Civil Defense said the six passengers who were pulled out were sent to the hospital while search was still continuing for the two others. Spokesman, Maj. Yahya Al-Qahtani, warned the residents not to risk crossing the valleys or go out into the rains for the sake of their lives. He said, according to the warnings of the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME), more rains and sandstorms were expected in the region. He particularly warned against floods coming from the Yemeni territories through wadi Khalab and said some motorists were trapped and others drifted away. He said a wall fell on a car in Al-Badawi village but there were no casualties. The spokesman said the residents of Samtah village lived through complete darkness as the power was cut from their homes as a result of the heavy rains and sandstorms. The road security patrols were mobilized on all major roads to warn the motorists and organize traffic. In wadi Dhahaba, to the west of Najran, a soldier in the land forces along the southern borders, climbed on a tree to avoid the floods which washed away his military car and his companion. He called the Civil Defense for help and was rescued but search was still continuing for his colleague.
