Mecca, Saudi Arabia – Pilgrims performing the sacred tawaf ritual on Tuesday found themselves caught in a tumultuous storm as lightning struck an iconic tower in Mecca. The city, known as the holiest site in Islam, experienced unprecedented weather conditions, leading to chaos and disruption. The heavy rain and storms resulted in the closure of schools, flooding in certain areas, and dramatic scenes at the revered Kaaba.
Videos circulating online depicted the unsettling moments as pilgrims attempting the tawaf, the ritualistic circling of the Kaaba, battled heavy rains and slippery floors. The downpour, accompanied by strong winds, caused objects to be hurled around, adding to the pilgrims’ challenges. In an extraordinary occurrence, a bolt of lightning struck the renowned Fairmont Makkah Clock Royal Tower hotel, briefly illuminating the night sky.
Hussain al-Qahtani, the spokesperson for the National Center for Meteorology, took to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to provide details of the storm. He reported gale-force winds surpassing 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour and indicated that the Mecca neighborhood of al-Kakiyyah recorded a staggering 45 millimeters (1.8 inches) of rainfall within a 24-hour period.
The floods at street due to heavy rains in Mecca, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 (22.08.2023)
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Disturbing videos also documented localized flooding in certain Mecca neighborhoods, prompting residents to seek shelter and cease vehicle movement. These scenes drew comparisons to a tragic incident in 2015 when a storm caused a crane to collapse at the Grand Mosque, resulting in over 100 fatalities and hundreds of injuries.
Fortunately, Saudi authorities have reported no significant casualties or incidents arising from Tuesday’s storms. Although the flash flooding had mostly subsided by Wednesday morning, residents remained cautious due to the lingering risk.
The meteorology center issued a warning of further storms on Wednesday, forecasting additional rain, wind, and thunder for the Mecca region and other parts of western Saudi Arabia. As a precautionary measure, the Mecca regional government announced the closure of schools in select areas, with classes to be conducted through e-learning platforms to ensure everyone’s safety.
Abu Mayyada, a Mecca resident, recounted his experience during the worst of the storm, describing how the weather turned ominous while he was out running errands.
“I suddenly lost control of the vehicle. I couldn’t see anything, so I started listening to the Quran on the radio. I didn’t understand what was happening,” he expressed to AFP news agency.
Another resident, Mohammed, shared his perspective on the chaotic scenes around the Grand Mosque. “Everything happened within a few minutes when it started raining in a crazy way,” he stated.
Despite the challenges posed by the storms, the spirit of the pilgrims and residents of Mecca remained resilient as they navigated through the extraordinary weather event.
