Jazan witnessed heavy rains which caused flash floods in a number of valleys in the region. (SPA)

Thunderstorms which recently hit Jazan fell a number of electricity poles and blocked roads in several mountainous areas.

The Civil Defense in Jazan said in a press statement that Dayer, Fifa, Al-Ardha, Al-Ebadi, Al-Harth and other areas witnessed heavy rains which caused flash floods in a number of valleys in the region.

Jazan Civil Defense spokesman Maj. Yahya Al-Qahtani said safety patrols were deployed in valleys, and citizens were requested to report the extent of rain and conditions to the department’s control and command center.

The command center reported that some roads in mountainous areas were cut off and efforts were under way to reopen them.

The rains that fell in the Asir area exposed faults in projects being implemented, with roads and underpasses at Mensk, Khamis Mushayt and other areas flooded with no means to discharge the rainwater.

Citizens in the area complained about the problems and disruptions. Ahmad Asiri, a citizen, said: “Unfortunately the rains that fell revealed the fiasco of the project implemented by the secretariat … the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the officials who endorsed the projects should be held accountable for such failures and its future implications.”

He said the projects were flooded when only light rains fell and wondered what would have been the case if heavy rains fell.

Ibrahim Al-Amir, a public relations employee at the Asir secretariat said in a briefing to the media that the secretariat is only an executive body and had nothing to do with floodwater management.

Spokesman of the Baha Red Crescent Emad Al-Zahrani said rescue teams handled eight traffic accidents, with 10 injuries. Teams treated seven persons at the scene, and transported the others to nearby hospitals.

Baha Civil Defense spokesman Lt. Col. Jaman Al-Ghamdi said the rains disrupted and blocked some roads, causing electrical short circuits and malfunctions in a number of vehicles, and the collapse of some overpasses. “All reports were addressed immediately,” he added.

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