Damascus, Oct. 30 (SANA) At least five people, including four children, died and five others were reported missing after heavy rainfall triggered flash floods across several Syrian governorates, the Syrian Civil Defense said Friday.
Youssef Azzo, director of field operations at the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, told SANA that rescue teams carried out more than 300 emergency operations on October 28 and 29, responding to over 450 calls for assistance.
Seven people were injured, while emergency crews rescued 50 people stranded by floodwaters or vehicle accidents and assisted approximately 42 stranded vehicles, Azzo said.
Four children drowned in floodwater pools in villages in Raqqa countryside and Deir Ezzor, while a fifth person died in a traffic accident near al-Suleimani Bridge in western Raqqa countryside, according to preliminary reports.
In the Kasrat Surour area of Raqqa countryside, rescue teams assisted families trapped by rising waters after an earthen bridge collapsed. More than 100 families were affected.
Around 375 families also left the Sahlat al-Banat, al-Younaniya and al-Maqas camps as a precaution against further flooding.
Heavy rain caused seven culverts to collapse, cutting off roads, while fallen trees, rocks and debris disrupted traffic in parts of Damascus countryside, Aleppo, Tartous, Daraa and Deir Ezzor.
Civil Defense teams worked to reopen roads, remove debris and pump floodwater from homes, streets and public facilities.
The unsettled weather, which began Tuesday afternoon, is expected to continue until early Saturday, October 31, with forecasts warning of further heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, hail and strong winds.
I.Z/ABD
