World23.08.2023 - 12:25

A strong hurricane hit Mecca

Cars here are drowning in the water currents.

Фото: РИА Новости / Михаил Воскресенский

The strongest hurricane has hit Saudi Arabia. Wind gusts whose speeds exceed 80 kilometers per hour have knocked people off their feet and toppled metal objects in Mecca.

"Wind speeds exceed 80 kilometers per hour in Mecca," Hussein al-Qahtani, a spokesman for the Saudi meteorological center, said on social media.

Local media circulated clips of wind gusts literally blowing away citizens and pilgrims from other countries. The hurricane also toppled billboards and garbage cans.

Authorities in Mecca said on social media that classes in the kingdom's educational institutions have been moved online. There is currently no information on casualties.

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