SAUDI ARABIA: Snowfall in north-western Saudi Arabia draws residents and visitors to scenic mountain areas

Record ID: 189326

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Snowfall in north-western Saudi Arabia draws residents and visitors to scenic mountain areas
  • Date: 17th February 2014
  • Summary: TABUK, SAUDI ARABIA (FEBRUARY 16, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF 4 WHEEL DRIVE CARS IN SNOW CARS AND PEOPLE ON SNOW-COVERED ROAD MAN TAKING PHOTOGRAPH OF CHILDREN PLAYING WITH SNOW CHILD THROWING SNOWBALL VARIOUS OF MAN MAKING SNOWMAN ON HIS CAR TWO MEN LOOKING AT SNOW COVERED MOUNTAINS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) VISITOR, OSAMAH AL-MUWAILHI, SAYING: "Here we are at the beginning of the route up the mountain and the beginning of the snow. The higher we go up the road, it becomes more difficult. Only 4 wheel drive cars can climb it. Small cars and our small one can't climb because of ice on the road and small cars skid." MAN THROWING SNOW TOWARDS CAMERA SECURITY PATROLS DRIVING ON ROAD TOWARDS ALLOUZ MOUNTAIN SECURITY PATROLS WITH CIVIL DEFENCE STANDBY ON ROAD MEN TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TABUK RESIDENT, ABDULLAH AL-ZAHRANI, SAYING: "I came to watch the snow, but for the first time I see the fog. I have lived in Tabuk since I was 24 years old and have not seen fog this dense. As you can see you can`t see around you for a long distance." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING AT WATER SPRING CREATED BY MELTING SNOW
  • Embargoed: 4th March 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Environment,Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVABJ9ZXQYOOAPJIYZKULB9EWM54
  • Story Text: Snowfall in the north-west of Saudi Arabia on Sunday (February 16) drew local residents and visitors to scenic mountainous areas to enjoy the spectacle.
    The city of Tabuk near the Jordanian border received snow intermittently from dawn on Sunday, coating nearby mountains and roads in a sheet of white.
    Local residents and visitors to the region travelled roads towards higher ground, especially those leading to nearby Mount Allouz, 200km from Tabuk.
    Osamah al-Muwailhi travelled 250km to enjoy the snow and described the difficulties it caused to his travel.
    "Here we are at the beginning of the route up the mountain and the beginning of the snow. The higher we go up the road, it becomes more difficult.
    Only 4 wheel drive cars can climb it. Small cars and our small one can't climb because of ice on the road and small cars skid," he said.
    Tabuk's traffic police cautioned drivers against travelling up the steep and slippery mountain roads.
    Tabuk resident Abdullah al-Zahrani came to see the snow but was perplexed by the density of fog.
    "I came to watch the snow, but for the first time I see the fog. I have lived in Tabuk since I was 24 years old and have not seen fog this dense.
    As you can see you can`t see around you for a long distance," he said.
    Security, traffic and health services were on standby to organise traffic on icy roads.
    Two people died and another was injured in a Jeep accident.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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