By Abdulaziz Khilaif

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

LAITH — Heavy rain and torrential floods in Al-Laith on Friday submerged the southern areas of the city, according to residents.

They said many areas were submerged when an under-construction dam cutting across the city from east to west collapsed sending large quantities of water to the southern districts of Laith.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture refuted these claims saying the dam was still under execution and has not been completed yet. It added that it was the sand block built to protect the main dam that collapsed.

The residents rejected the ministry’s narration and said the execution of the dam, which was being built at a cost of SR100 million, was slackening for more than 11 years.

The residents used social media to circulate photos of water gushing into their city and said the collapse of the dam released large quantities of water.

However, the ministry’s spokesman, Abdullah Aba Al-Khail, insisted that the dam was still under construction and has not been completed.

“There is no way for the dam to fall down when it is still a scheme under execution,” he added.

The residents could not swallow the ministry’s justifications and said the project had been shifting from one contracting company to another without being implemented.

“The project has been slackening after work on it had stopped many years ago. Who is responsible for the delay of work on the project? Where was the ministry all this time?” a resident asked. He did not want to be identified.

Deputy spokesman for the Civil Defense Lt. Col. Mohammed Bin Osman Al-Qarni said they were able to rescue 69 people and 23 cars. “We have provided safe shelter for 45 other people,” he added.

A number of residents resorted to rooftops to avoid being electrocuted when word spread about the collapse of the dam and impending floods.

In text messages on mobile phones in Arabic and English, the Civil Defense warned the citizens and expatriates to be cautious and to remain home during rain.

About 150 volunteers from the Saudi Al-Salam Team for Search and Rescue assisted the Civil Defense in its operations.

Units consisting of divers, paramedics, pilots and boat operators joined the search and rescue mission.

Spokesman of the team Mohammed Al-Madawi said hey were able to evacuate a number of families who were besieged by water.