Saudi Arabia’s Mecca experiences strong winds and rain
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Extreme storms and rain in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, have injured pilgrims, closed schools, and caused chaos.
On Tuesday, videos showed pilgrims around the Kaaba getting drenched and stumbling on the floor as torrential rains battered and dragged things.
During the uncommon events at the gigantic black cube where all Muslims worship, another video saw a bolt of lightning strike the Fairmont Makkah Clock Royal Tower hotel, lighting the night sky on Tuesday.
National Centre for Meteorology spokesman Hussain al-Qahtani stated on X, previously Twitter, that the storm delivered gale-force gusts around 80 kilometres (50 miles) per hour.
The floods at street due to heavy rains in Mecca, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 (22.08.2023)
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Al-Qahtani reported 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain in al-Kakiyyah, Mecca, in 24 hours.
Conditions resembled a 2015 storm that toppled a crane at the Grand Mosque, or Masjid al-Haram, the mosque surrounding the Kaaba, killing over 100 people and wounding hundreds.
Saudi authorities reported no major storm-related injuries or accidents on Tuesday.
Residents reported that flash flooding had mostly subsided by Wednesday morning, but it was still dangerous.
The meteorology centre predicted more storms on Wednesday, bringing rain, wind, and thunder to Mecca and western Saudi Arabia.
Videos online showed light flooding in certain Mecca neighbourhoods forcing residents to take refuge and stop automobiles.
