SAUDI ARABIA

Residents of Jeddah district live under constant threat of falling rocks

January 21, 2018

Abdullah Gharman



Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH – Residents of the Kilo 14 neighborhood in east Jeddah are living under a constant threat of rock falls due to landslides in nearby mountains. Many of them expressed fears that their lives and properties are in serious danger.

The residents complained that the Civil Defense Directorate and Jeddah Municipality have not taken any action so far to protect them and remove their concerns.

Ibrahim Jabali said he had to spend SR100,000 on maintenance after a rock that rolled down from a nearby mountain damaged his house. “A big rock fell on my house and ended up in the reception hall as the roof caved in,” Jabali told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

“We narrowly escaped death thanks to God,” he added.

Jabali said he had to rent an apartment during the maintenance work on his house following the appalling accident. “I have not received any compensation or financial support from the government although I had applied for it,” he pointed out.

Jabali said he had requested the municipality to take measures to prevent rock falls in the district.

Abdul Aziz Al-Suhaimi described huge rocks in nearby mountains as ticking bombs that will destroy their homes and kill their wives and children. “These rocks can fall on our homes any time. We have witnessed many incidents of rocks falling on houses and cars,” he explained.

Al-Suhaimi criticized the lukewarm response of the municipality and the Civil Defense to the problem. They have not taken any precautionary measures to protect citizens and residents from falling rocks, he added.

Hamoud Al-Qarni said the situation worsens during the rainy season. He wondered why the authorities did not pay any attention to the complaints lodged by the residents.

The municipality and the Civil Defense must put up barriers on mountain ridges to prevent rock falls. “We get terrified every time it rains because gushing floodwater from the mountains might send rocks rolling down on our houses,” he said.

Mohammed Al-Hadadi said he had allocated part of his income to prevent rock falls and remove rocks that come down often. “We hope the authorities would act before a catastrophe occurs,” he said.

Al-Hadadi called for a radical solution to end the problem once and for all.

Saleh Al-Malki drew the authorities’ attention to this serious issue. “Rocks are likely to fall from mountains as a result of landslides. We seek a quick solution for this pressing problem,” he said.


January 21, 2018
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