Eyewitnesses report injuries and evacuations after another blast at Saudi Arabia’s main airport, as flight cancellations and diversions disrupt travel.
WEB DESK: Multiple people were reportedly wounded in a blast at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, October 10, as travellers were evacuated from parts of the facility and flights were diverted or cancelled.
Reuters reported that two eyewitnesses and two people briefed on the incident described injuries at the airport. One witness said several people were lying injured on the ground after an explosion, while more than a dozen ambulances were seen arriving at the scene.
The Saudi government’s media office and civil aviation authority had not immediately responded to requests for comment, according to Reuters. The precise number of people injured in the latest incident had not been officially confirmed in the reports reviewed.
Airport evacuation and flight disruptions
Parts of the airport were evacuated following the blast, while flight-tracking information showed flights bound for Riyadh being diverted or cancelled.
Kuwait Airways announced cancellations to and from the Saudi capital, citing the airport’s closure because of the security situation. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways also cancelled services, with some disruptions extending into the following days, Reuters reported.
The airport urged passengers to check their flight status directly with their airlines before travelling to the facility.
Incident follows earlier deadly attacks
The latest blast came two days after attacks at the airport that Saudi authorities said killed three Saudi citizens and injured several others. The earlier incidents also caused material damage, including damage to an aircraft operated by national carrier Saudia.
Yemen’s Houthi movement had claimed responsibility for earlier attacks on Saudi airports. However, responsibility for the latest Saturday incident had not been officially established in the initial reports.
The renewed security concerns have affected aviation operations as regional hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen intensify.
Authorities yet to confirm full details
The full circumstances of Saturday’s blast, the extent of the damage and the final number of casualties remained unclear in the reports available at publication time.
Travellers were advised to contact their airlines for the latest information and follow instructions issued by airport and local authorities.
