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Saudi floods kill at least 48 |
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Thursday, 26 November 2009 |
 At
least 48 people have died in Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah following the heaviest rainfall in
years, officials said on Thursday.
Some were drowned or were killed by collapsing bridges and in car crashes,
while the rescue crews said another 900 people were stranded by the floodwaters
caused by rainfall.
About
1.6 million pilgrims have come to Saudi Arabia from abroad for the
haj, the world's largest regular religious gathering, but none were reported
among the victims of the flooding.
The floods did, however, force the closure of a motorway to Islam's holy city
of Mecca,
stranding pilgrims who were unable to complete their journey.
The unusually heavy rains in the desert kingdom flooded streets and buildings
in Jeddah, the main entry point for the pilgrims.
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