Taif, – Recent reports from social media have indicated that a lightning strike ignited a fire that consumed a number of palm trees in the western Saudi Arabian city of Taif.
A circulating video on social media portrays a group of palm trees engulfed in flames, allegedly caused by a lightning strike during the rain that fell upon Taif on Saturday. These trees, seen burning in the footage, were situated adjacent to a building.
The Saudi National Centre for Meteorology has forecasted forthcoming rainy conditions accompanied by dusty winds and instances of hail on the following Sunday. This weather phenomenon is predicted to impact various areas such as Mecca, Jizan, Asir, Al Baha, and even the southern districts of the holy city of Medina.
Responding to the incident, Saudi Civil Defence teams effectively extinguished a “limited” fire that affected six palm trees in Wadi Wej, fortunately resulting in no casualties. Authorities have not yet disclosed the precise cause behind the fire.
Mecca authorities, encompassing Taif, recently issued a red alert due to predictions of intense rainfall coupled with hail showers and potential flooding. Last week, Mecca, renowned as the home of Islam’s most sacred site, underwent heavy downpours and a fierce storm, prompting the temporary closure of educational institutions with a shift towards online learning.
In an intriguing viral video, cleaning personnel at Mecca’s Grand Mosque were observed losing their balance and being swept away by powerful gale force winds. Furthermore, another video captured the moment a lightning bolt struck the Clock Tower, a prominent landmark near the mosque. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in either instance
