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Filipino among fatalities in Jeddah floods


A Filipino worker was among at least 11 fatalities in floods that hit Jeddah in Saudi Arabia following a downpour earlier this week, a television report said Saturday. QTV-11's Balitanghali cited initial information from the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah that the Filipino was electrocuted after touching a wet transformer, and was rushed to a hospital but could not be saved by doctors. The report said the Consulate did not immediately release the Filipino's name, but said the worker was employed at a cargo company.
A separate report on Arab News cited the Civil Defense as saying at least three people were also reported missing after the floods, even as residents continued cleanup operations. “Ten of the dead were identified as two Saudis, two Chadians, one Egyptian, one Turk, one Filipino, one Yemeni, one Bangladeshi and a Nepalese. The eleventh flood casualty was yet to be identified. Three people were reported by their families as missing," the Arab News report said. On the other hand, the report said at least 100 people were being treated with injuries including three in intensive care. All private and public schools will remain closed until Feb. 11, the Ministry of Education said. The exams resume Feb. 13. The Arab News report said major roads were reopened, but many residents in flooded districts remained without cellular-phone reception due to damages to nearby towers. Most residents had power restored to their homes, but the Saudi Electricity Company said Friday 4,361 subscribers were still in the dark. Jeddah police spokesman Col. Misfer Al-Juaid said police units were dispatched to areas lacking electricity to prevent looting. Rescue helicopters maintained their search over flooded areas east of the Haramain Expressway and other parts of the city. The Civil Defense said that since Thursday night it has rescued 1,451 people with the help of its ground staff and 498 people by helicopters. Earlier, a Filipino lost his car to thieves following the floods in Saudi Arabia. The Filipino, identified in an earlier report only as Alfonso, is a resident of the Faisaliyah district. — LBG, GMANews.TV

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