Civil Defense warns of floods in several Syrian governorates

Rainfall and widespread flooding

Wide parts of Syrian governorates, including Raqqa, Al-Hasakah, Deir Ezzor, eastern Homs, Hama, and Aleppo, are experiencing thunderstorm rainfall accompanied by hail and strong downdraft winds. This is due to the atmospheric disturbance currently affecting the country, which has caused floods and flash floods that have filled wadis and cut off roads in those areas.

The Syrian Civil Defense, within the Ministry of Emergency Affairs and Disaster Management, confirmed via its Telegram channel on Wednesday that these rains have led to dangerous water flow. Field teams in the ministry's directorates responded yesterday to a number of reports and incidents resulting from weather conditions in the Damascus countryside, Tartus, and Daraa governorates.

Safety instructions and guidelines

The Early Warning and Preparedness Department in the ministry has called on citizens to strictly adhere to safety instructions to avoid risks. These instructions included avoiding low-lying areas and wadi courses during heavy rainfall, and not risking crossing any watercourse regardless of how low the water levels appear. It also warned against driving on roads flooded with water or covered with hail, or agricultural roads.

The guidelines pointed out the necessity of staying away from flash flood courses to protect children, the elderly, women, and people with disabilities from the risk of slipping and falling. They also stipulated not to take photos or approach to watch flash floods, and to stay away from bridges built over watercourses with strong flow, and not to risk crossing them with vehicles. It also called for not stopping cars in low-lying areas or near watercourses, and reducing speed on roads experiencing heavy rainfall.

Field team interventions

Field team interventions focused on addressing the effects of rainfall and windstorms, by pumping water accumulations from homes and roads, opening damaged roads, and removing obstacles and fallen trees. Teams also carried out rescue and emergency response operations for a traffic accident.

Syria is currently affected by an atmospheric disturbance accompanied by heavy rainfall and strong thunderstorms, with a high probability of hail and severe downdrafts. This disturbance began yesterday afternoon Tuesday and is expected to continue until dawn on Saturday, October 31, according to weather forecasts. One can contact Civil Defense teams for rescue, ambulance, fire, and assistance in emergencies and traffic accidents via the numbers available on the ministry's official link.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)