Idleb, Feb. 7 (SANA) Heavy rainfall struck Idleb province on Saturday, triggering flash floods that swept away and submerged several tents located near a seasonal watercourse in the Khirbet al-Jouz camps, west of the province.
According to SANA’s correspondent, the floods inundated camps situated along seasonal waterways, prompting urgent evacuation operations. Several schools and shelters were opened to host families whose tents were damaged.
Civil Defense teams immediately responded to the weather event, taking measures to mitigate flood risks. This included clearing water channels and evacuating residents from the affected Khirbet al-Jouz camps to temporary shelters.
Teams, in coordination with the Health Directorate, evacuated patients and medical staff from Ain Al-Bayda Hospital after floodwaters reached the building and submerged the ground floor. They were transferred to Jisr al-Shughour and Idleb to ensure their safety.
Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh stated that Civil Defense teams are continuing their response to the heavy rainfall in Idleb, working to clear waterways and carry out evacuations of affected families.
He noted that ministry teams are monitoring field reports across Idleb, Sarmada, Jisr al-Shughour, Saraqib, and rural Hama, urging residents to exercise caution and avoid flood channels and water accumulation areas for their safety.
Idleb Governor Mohammad Abdul Rahman stated that the heavy rainfall submerged and damaged more than ten displacement camps in various areas. He explained that all relevant authorities have been instructed to implement urgent response measures and secure residents’ needs.
He added that schools and mosques were opened to host affected families, alongside the mobilization of social affairs teams to provide essential supplies.
The governor stressed that the province is monitoring the situation on the ground around the clock, coordinating with service and humanitarian agencies to ensure rapid response, alleviate suffering, and safeguard residents.
For her part, Idleb’s Director of Social Affairs and Labor, Ahlam al-Rashid, declared a state of maximum alert for all staff and field teams. She affirmed her presence in affected areas to assess damage immediately and coordinate joint efforts for emergency response and provision of basic needs.
The Emergency and Disaster Management Directorate in Lattakia announced the deployment of support teams and rescue equipment equipped with water pumps to assist the affected camps in Khirbet al-Jouz.
Meanwhile, Syrian Civil Defense teams worked to open water channels to drain accumulated rainwater on the Damascus–Aleppo highway near Saraqib, facilitating traffic flow.
MHD
