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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Environment

Extreme weather brings winds, fierce rains to Saudi Arabia’s Mecca

A picture taken on August 22, 2023 shows lightning over Mecca's clock tower in Saudi Arabia. - Fierce storms closed schools on August 23 the desert kingdom's Mecca region, home to the holy Grand Mosque which was lashed by heavy rains and wind overnight, witnesses said. (Photo by Hammad Al-Huthali / AFP) (AFP)

Saudi Arabia’s Mecca, home to Islam’s holiest sites, has seen extreme storms and rain that affected pilgrims, shuttered schools and caused chaotic scenes.

Videos online on Tuesday showed pilgrims who were doing the tawaf – circling the Kaaba – getting soaked and slipping on the floor as heavy rains thrashed and carried objects around.

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