Flooded Jeddah records 15 times average annual rainfall in six hours

Boats used to move people trapped in submerged streets

Heavy rains have hit western Saudi Arabia, including the coastal city of Jeddah, causing floods, delaying flights and forcing schools to close. Reuters

Vehicles on a waterlogged road, amid heavy rains in Jeddah. Reuters

People walk through floodwaters, on a road in Jeddah. Reuters

Schools and many workplaces had already been closed nationwide on Wednesday after a holiday was declared following Saudi Arabia's shock defeat of Argentina in the World Cup. Reuters

A screengrab from a video shows cars being swept down a street in Jeddah.

A motorist drives through the water. The road to Makkah, Islam's holiest city, was closed. AFP

The water snarled traffic and partially submerged some vehicles. AFP

Heavy storm clouds in Jeddah. Photo: SPA

Heavy storm clouds in Jeddah. Photo: SPA

Heavy storm clouds in Jeddah. Photo: SPA

Heavy storm clouds in Jeddah. Photo: SPA

Heavy storm clouds in Jeddah. Photo: SPA

Saudi Arabia's west coast city of Jeddah received 965mm of rainfall in six hours on Thursday, as turbulent weather across the country killed at least two people, authorities said.

Thursday's rains were at least 15 times the average annual rainfall for Jeddah, according to some estimates.

Unusual scenes were posted on local media including a video of a boat purportedly belonging to the Civil Defence, transporting people who became marooned when roads were submerged.

“I tried going to work but saw loads of accidents and you can see the emergency cars on the streets. People just left their cars. which were half flooded with water, and started walking, the streets are flooded,” said Ali Harbi, a Saudi resident in Jeddah.

Some flights at King Abdulaziz Airport were delayed.

Jeddah's health authorities denied rumours that the rainfall had caused disruption to medical services.

"Water seeped into some of the facilities in King Abdulaziz city in Jeddah and the situation was dealt with according to the emergency plan in place," the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs said in a statement.

"Medical care services were unaffected and no injuries were reported."

More rainfall is expected on Friday as Jeddah experiences the "highest ever levels of rainfall since 2009", National Centre for Meteorology spokesman Hussein Al Qahtani said.