POLICE HELP 450 PEOPLE STUCK IN SNOWSTORM ACROSS WEST BANK

Ramallah, 18 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436/9 January 2015 (MINA)– Palestinian police forces on Wednesday rescued at least 450 people from incidents related to winter Storm Huda as it swept across the Holy Land, bringing snow in many places as temperatures dipped below freezing in the hilly West Bank.

In a statement, police said that they had been called to help people who found themselves caught up in the wintry weather on the first day of the storm’s landing in the region, Ma’an News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

They said that the majority of cases were for those stranded in their vehicles on the road due to rain, snow, hail, and heavy winds.

Other cases where police intervened included where people needed to be taken to the hospital or their places of work.

Police also helped remove snow piled on main roads and aid residents whose houses were flooded with rainwater and snow.

The statement urged people across the West Bank to stay home to avoid getting caught in the weather, the worst storm of the season so far.

Storm Huda touched down on Wednesday and is expected to continue until Saturday, although its force is expected to gradually decline.

Thursday was a public holiday across the West Bank and Gaza, where the storm has already caused flooding in many areas and forced hundreds to evacuate their homes. (T/P010/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)