Authorities in Saudi Arabia said that they were implementing “emergency plans to confront the rain” in the holy city of Makkah, amid early preparations to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims visiting the Grand Mosque during the last ten days of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, represented by the Environmental Protection Services and Achievement Agency, in cooperation with other government agencies working in the Grand Mosque, recruited more than 200 supervisors and observers, 4,000 workers, and used more than 500 pieces of equipment to deal with the rain that swept the Grand Mosque on Monday.
The General President for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, directed the Agency for Security, Safety, Confrontation of Emergencies and Risks to prepare and activate field plans to confront the rain in preparation for the rainy situation that had been forecast by the National Center of Meteorology.
The center warned of thunderstorms accompanied by active winds and dust, with hail showers that could lead to torrential rains in several parts of the Kingdom, including Al-Baha, Makkah, Madinah, Tabuk, Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders region, Hail, Najran, Jazan, Asir, Al-Qassim, Riyadh and the southern parts of the Eastern Province.
It also warned of the need for caution, particularly due to the high numbers of pilgrims and worshippers visiting the holy capital during Ramadan, the number of which has exceeded 950,000 since the start of the month, according to the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.
Al-Sudais stressed the importance of exerting maximum efforts, harnessing all capabilities and adhering to alertness and readiness to ensure the safety of pilgrims and worshipers, efficient cooperation with all relevant authorities, and intensifying the efforts of the presidential agencies operating in the Grand mosque.
The National Center of Meteorology later on Monday issued an “advanced alert” for the continuing dust situation over a number of governorates in the Makkah region, accompanied by active surface winds, almost zero visibility, and high waves over the coastal areas.
The center said that those areas affected included the holy capital, Jeddah, Jamoum, and Bahra, in addition to open areas and highways, adding that it would begin from 9:00 a.m on Tuesday and continue until 3:00 p.m..
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques also announced that it had implemented its plan for the last 10 days of Ramadan, which are considered to be among the holiest as Muslims believe that during one of those nights the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Heavy rain falls on Muslim pilgrims performing Umrah in Mecca
Pilgrims performing Umrah in Mecca experienced a spiritual moment in the early hours of Monday as rain started pouring over the holy city.
A video shared by the Mecca region’s official Twitter page, showed pilgrims performing the tawaf, when Muslims circumambulate the Kaaba, while others seized the moment to stand in the rain and pray in front of the Kaaba.
#مكه_المكرمه_الان
— إمارة منطقة مكة المكرمة (@makkahregion) April 10, 2023
أمطار 🌧️ 19 رمضان
📸: رائد العفيفي pic.twitter.com/nNk5CdPrD5
Meanwhile, security and emergency agencies rushed to ensure that no incidents take place due to the weather conditions by activating the field plans set for such occasions.
During Ramadan hundreds of thousands of Muslims flock to Mecca to perform Umrah. This year, the holy month of Ramadan began on March 23 and will end on April 21.
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