Riyadh: Saudi officials say two people were killed when they were electrocuted by a downed lamp post in Jiddah as severe thunderstorms forced schools and universities to suspend classes in the western city and nearby Mecca.
Two children are missing in the northwestern province of Ha’il, while a third child was rescued in a flooded valley there.
Saudi Arabia’s emergency response crews are advising residents to stay indoors as heavy rains pound areas along the kingdom’s Red Sea coastline. The area experienced deadly floods in 2009.
Saudis took to social media to share videos and pictures of flooded streets and high winds, which are expected to last until tomorrow.
The National Center for Meteorology and Seismology in the neighboring United Arab Emirates says rain is expected there Friday.