MECCA — Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence on Tuesday confirmed that one boy was found dead and another child was still missing after flash floods swept away three children in the holy city, as a heavy rain spell continued to batter the Kingdom’s western regions.
The Civil Defence said in a statement posted on its X account that emergency teams responded to a report that three children had been caught in rushing floodwaters in Mecca. Rescuers managed to pull one child to safety, while a second was later found dead. Search operations were continuing on Wednesday for the third child, whose whereabouts remained unknown.
Rescue teams race against time
Civil Defence teams launched a full search-and-rescue operation after the alert was raised on Tuesday, according to state media reports. The Ajel news outlet reported that the children had fallen into a floodwater channel, with two pulled from the water — one of whom was found dead — while the search for the third child went on into the evening.
The circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately clear, and officials did not release the ages of the children. Rescue personnel combed flood channels and low-lying areas as the rain continued.
Civil Defence issues urgent warning
In its statement, the Civil Defence urged citizens, residents and visitors across the Kingdom to exercise extreme caution during rainfall, particularly in areas vulnerable to sudden flooding. The authority warned the public against approaching valleys, flood channels and low-lying areas where rainwater can accumulate rapidly, noting that flash floods can pose a serious danger during heavy rainfall as fast-moving water surges through valleys and drainage channels.
Officials reiterated the importance of avoiding flood-prone locations and following official safety instructions during unstable weather conditions.
Ongoing rain spell grips western Saudi Arabia
The tragedy comes amid an ongoing spell of intense rainfall across western Saudi Arabia, including Mecca, Taif and the southern regions, that began earlier this week. Saudi weather authorities have warned of continued convective rainfall, with a red alert — the highest danger level — previously declared for Taif and Al-Ardiyat as torrents of water filled wadi channels and turned roads into raging rivers.
The National Centre of Meteorology has forecast further rainfall across parts of the Makkah region in the coming days, urging the public to monitor official weather bulletins.
Pattern of seasonal flood danger
Saudi Arabia faces recurring flash-flood risks during seasonal downpours, particularly in Mecca and the western coastal regions, where dry wadis can turn into raging torrents within minutes. Authorities have long urged residents to avoid valley floors and flood drainage channels during rain, yet such incidents continue to claim lives each rainy season.
The Civil Defence’s search operation for the missing child continued as of Wednesday morning, with officials promising further updates as the situation develops.
