Ahmad Al-Hassani

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — Residents of Makkah's Al-Shisha district, which neighbors Mina at the entrance to Al-Aziziah Street, have said city officials have failed to fill a 10-meter deep hole left by a resident of the district next to a building he was trying to have built nearly four years ago.



With the project abandoned, however, residents said the hole was never filled and it poses a threat to them and their children.



“It is painful to wait for such a long time with no response from the concerned officials. Residents fear the hole, which is surrounded by several buildings, poses a threat to their homes as its walls have started cracking. Officials must intervene and allay these fears,” said one resident on condition of anonymity.



Muhammad Ali said residents submitted different petitions to seven government authorities and were in contact with the municipality’s operations department yet nothing has been done.



“We have proof including transaction numbers. Whenever the municipality receives a transaction or complaint, it sends an SMS message confirming it has received the report. But nothing has been done.”



Fellow resident Abdulrahman Al-Shihri said walls of the hole might cave in due to the erroneous method of digging used and the absence of concrete reinforcement. “This might cause great structural damage to surrounding buildings. Also, residents fear that children might fall into the hole one day.”



An official source in the Makkah municipality who requested anonymity said the municipality is trying to find a solution to the problem.