In late August, heavy rains struck Saudi Arabia, causing severe flooding along the Red Sea coast. Social media has been flooded with images and videos showing submerged city streets, roads, and cars stuck in the water.
On August 30, the National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued a red alert. Earlier, the Saudi Civil Defense warned residents about the risk of strong winds, thunderstorms, hail, and reduced visibility.
The western and southwestern regions of the country were the hardest hit by the sudden floods. Near the city of Al Lith, close to the Red Sea coast, two bodies were found in the Wadi Dahab area.
In the Medina region, floods swept away cars, creating additional challenges for local residents and rescue services.
Due to the threat of flooding, thousands of workers were dispatched to the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, Prophet's Mosque, in Medina and the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, where the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, is located. They monitored water levels and provided assistance in managing the rainfall. These efforts allowed worshippers to continue their religious rituals safely despite the harsh weather.
The rains also affected the central regions of the country. Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant, follow updates from the meteorological service, and strictly adhere to safety precautions as the flood risk persists. Rainfall is expected to continue until Tuesday.
It is worth noting that the previous flood in Saudi Arabia occurred just over a week ago. Local media reported that Medina received a year’s worth of rainfall in a single day, leading to catastrophic flooding.
Saudi Arabia is generally considered an arid country with a desert climate, where scarce rainfall typically occurs during the winter months. However, in recent years, the situation has changed dramatically. Abnormally heavy rains, thunderstorms, and hail have become frequent even in summer. In the deserts, camels can now often be seen struggling against raging torrents that have flooded once-dry lands.
It is evident that climate-related disasters are escalating much faster than previously anticipated, posing a significant threat to the well-being and lives of people around the world. Now, the pressing question for humanity is: what can we do to tackle these challenges?
The answer lies in actively deploying modern technologies that have already proven their effectiveness but have yet to be widely adopted. For example, using atmospheric water generators could significantly influence rainfall patterns and distribution by reducing atmospheric moisture content, thereby decreasing the frequency and severity of floods.
For more information, check out the documentary film “Water from Air: The Path to Saving Humanity”.