3 killed as heavy rains hit southern, eastern Yemen

Heavy rains and floods in Yemen's southern and eastern provinces

ADEN, Yemen, June 9 (Xinhua) -- At least three people died in Yemen following heavy rains and flood that struck several parts of the country's southern and eastern provinces over the past few hours on Sunday.

An Aden-based security official told Xinhua that torrential rains, lightning and high winds also caused a number of injuries in addition to blocking main roads in Aden and other neighboring provinces.

"Two death cases were reported in the southern city of Aden and another in the southeastern province of Shabwa as a result of floodings caused by heavy rains," he said on condition of anonymity.

Civil properties including cars were damaged and many houses in Aden's neighborhoods were submerged as a result of the heavy rains that continued for hours, he added.

In the neighboring southern province of Lahj, local media said the rain water mixed with sewage in the city's neighborhoods are threatening the lives of residents as they may suffer from spread of diseases and epidemics.

Yemen's National Meteorological Center warned of "continuing turbulent weather," explaining in its daily bulletin that heavy rains with high winds may continue to hit the southern coast and the adjacent areas.

The center warned the Yemeni citizens "to take the necessary precautions from the flow of floods, low visibility and sea waves disturbance."

Earlier in the day, Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik ordered the local authorities to immediately deal with the damage and consequences caused by the heavy rains and flood flows in Aden Province.

According to the state-run Saba News Agency, Abdulmalik urged more efforts to "mitigate the repercussions and damage of heavy rainfall in Aden."

Meanwhile, Yemeni Minister of Local Administration and Chairman of the Higher Relief Committee, Abdul-Raqib Fath, called for the international humanitarian organizations operating in the war-torn Arab country to provide urgent assistance for people affected by the heavy rains.

Yemen has been locked in a civil war since the Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014.

Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen's conflict in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Houthi rebels forced him into exile.

The prolonged military conflict has aggravated the suffering of Yemenis and deepened the world's worst humanitarian crisis.