Saudi Civil Defence searches for missing child after Mecca flash floods kill one boy

Saudi Civil Defence teams confirmed on Wednesday, 21 October, that a boy has died and another remains missing after flash floods swept away three children in Mecca on Tuesday. Emergency responders managed to rescue one child from the rushing waters, but search operations continue for the third victim. Rescue operations in Mecca The incident occurred when heavy rainfall triggered sudden floodwaters in the mountainous region. According to a statement released by the Saudi Civil Defence on X, emergency teams were dispatched immediately following reports that three children had been caught in a torrent. While rescuers pulled one survivor to safety, a second child was recovered deceased shortly after the search began. Civil Defence units, supported by specialized dive and rescue teams, are currently scouring valleys and drainage channels downstream from the incident site. The authorities have not yet released the ages or nationalities of the children involved, as the search for the final missing child remains the primary focus of the operation. Weather warnings for residents The tragedy follows a period of unstable weather across the Hejaz region. The Civil Defence has issued an urgent warning to citizens, residents, and pilgrims in Mecca to avoid valleys, flood plains, and low-lying areas where rainwater accumulates rapidly. The authority emphasized that fast-moving water in normally dry wadis poses a lethal risk even during moderate rainfall. This incident comes amid a series…