Saudi Arabia's west coast city of Jeddah received 965mm of rainfall in six hours on Thursday, as turbulent weather across the country killed at least two people, authorities said.
Thursday's rains were at least 15 times the average annual rainfall for Jeddah, according to some estimates.
Unusual scenes were posted on local media including a video of a boat purportedly belonging to the Civil Defence, transporting people who became marooned when roads were submerged.
“I tried going to work but saw loads of accidents and you can see the emergency cars on the streets. People just left their cars. which were half flooded with water, and started walking, the streets are flooded,” said Ali Harbi, a Saudi resident in Jeddah.
Some flights at King Abdulaziz Airport were delayed.
Jeddah's health authorities denied rumours that the rainfall had caused disruption to medical services.
"Water seeped into some of the facilities in King Abdulaziz city in Jeddah and the situation was dealt with according to the emergency plan in place," the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs said in a statement.
"Medical care services were unaffected and no injuries were reported."
More rainfall is expected on Friday as Jeddah experiences the "highest ever levels of rainfall since 2009", National Centre for Meteorology spokesman Hussein Al Qahtani said.
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Manchester United 2 (Martial 30', Lingard 69')
Arsenal 2 (Mustafi 26', Rojo 68' OG)
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Saudi Cup race day
Schedule in UAE time
5pm: Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup (Turf), 5.35pm: 1351 Cup (T), 6.10pm: Longines Turf Handicap (T), 6.45pm: Obaiya Arabian Classic for Purebred Arabians (Dirt), 7.30pm: Jockey Club Handicap (D), 8.10pm: Samba Saudi Derby (D), 8.50pm: Saudia Sprint (D), 9.40pm: Saudi Cup (D)
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
