Masoudi, Abdulrahman Kakheet, Muhammad Sameeh & Enad Al-OtaibiMAKKAH/TAIF: Rain is expected to fall over Makkah Thursday, according to the latest weather predictions. Many people had stayed at home Wednesday when heavy rain was forecast but only medium rain fell over the city. Civil Defense teams were placed on alert and deployed all over the holy city's streets and hazardous areas. Ali Al-Muntashiri, spokesman for the department, said that before the rainfall 80 field teams were stationed in streets and towns of the region for rapid intervention in case of emergencies. “All personnel were given instructions to be on alert,” he said. He said the situation in Makkah and at the Grand Mosque Wednesday was “safe”. Maj. Fawzi Al-Ansari, spokesman for Makkah Traffic Administration, said traffic police was present at main and ring roads and at locations where water previously collected in large amounts. “The traffic movement was normal and there were no disruptions and no accidents,” he said. Hussein Al-Qahtani, spokesman for the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment, said the rainfall over Makkah was medium on Wednesday and there was a chance for further rainfall early Thursday. He said the region was currently experiencing weather fluctuations and changes in temperature. There was a mixed response from school principals in Makkah Wednesday. Some told students to go home while others did not. Muhammad Al-Shumrani, Assistant Director of Education in Makkah, said “the meteorology presidency predictions were that there will be rain, and principals were asked to take the necessary measures.”
