SAUDI ARABIA

Swamps formed after heavy rain endanger lives in Jamoum area

December 09, 2018



Many huses in Jamoum outside Makkah are surrounded by water following rain.
Many huses in Jamoum outside Makkah are surrounded by water following rain.

By Ahmed Al-Lahyani

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — Swamps formed by the recent rain in Jamoum on the outskirts of Makkah are deeply annoying to the residents.

The residents were unanimous in blaming the municipality for huge material losses they incurred and for the dangers they live through due to the swamps and pools that surround their homes.

They said the stagnant lakes have submerged most neighborhoods especially Al-Omdah Street in Al-Safa district, where the water was more than half a meter high.

The residents fear their children might drown in these lakes, which have become a breeding ground for disease-spreading insects.

Mokhtar Al-Bushra, who has been living in Al-Safa district for more than 10 years, said they panic every time there is rain.

“This is our annual predicament. Neither the local municipality nor the one in Makkah was able to build a drainage system in Jamoum, which is about 25 km northwest of the holy city,” he said.

Al-Bushra said the water surrounding their homes has cut them off from the rest of the world.

“We are imprisoned in our homes. We cannot go out until the water has been drained using tankers,” he said.

He warned against children getting drowned in the swamps because the level of water is more than half a meter high.

Abdulaziz Al-Subhi, another resident, recalled that a few years back his entire house furniture was damaged by rainwater and he had to buy new sets.

“On a cold night, there was heavy rain. The water submerged my house completely destroying the furniture,” he said.

Khaled Al-Majnouni said the Jamoum residents are scared every time they see clouds in the sky. They fear the rain will cut them off.

“The rain makes us prisoners in our homes. We cannot go out even for extreme emergencies,” he said.

Hussain Al-Harbe said the rain has polluted Jamoum, creating swamps that breed insects and suffocate them with bad odor.

He warned that there might be cases of electrocutions, which would cause immediate death. He asked the municipality to do something before it became too late.


December 09, 2018
545 views
HIGHLIGHTS
SAUDI ARABIA
4 hours ago

FDI inflows to Saudi Arabia jump 16%, reaching over SR13 billion in 4Q of 2023

SAUDI ARABIA
4 hours ago

Saudi pavilion to showcase Manal AlDowayan's 'Shifting Sands: A Battle Song' at Venice Biennale

SAUDI ARABIA
4 hours ago

Red Sea International Airport to welcome first foreign flight in April