The recent rainfall in a number of regions across the Kingdom—particularly the Western, Central, and Eastern regions—over the past few days has caused significant disruption on many streets in the Kingdom’s major cities, as the consequences were not limited to damage, flooding, and environmental pollution; rather, the fallout has led to demands to hold accountable and punish companies and contractors that have failed to complete sewage projects. A number of citizens emphasized that had it not been for the poor drainage system, the disasters and tragedies—which have continued to recur in several of the Kingdom’s major cities every year—would not have occurred.
Recurring Scenes
One citizen says that rain is a blessing and a gift that people eagerly await, but its repercussions and tragedies dampen people’s joy at the rain, as there are endless, recurring problems and scenes: swamps everywhere—on main streets, side streets, and inner neighborhood roads—and environmental pollution, all of which stem from the poor implementation of drainage systems.
Another resident believes that the problem gets worse every time, and after the tragic events in Jeddah, we expected that all provinces and regions would learn from the lesson, but we have seen no change on the ground. Every rainy season, swamps appear, and in most neighborhoods located below sea level, large lakes form from accumulated rainwater, leaving citizens have to deal with the consequences of the rain themselves—from insects and a polluted environment to power outages and other issues.
For his part, another resident says that the most affected neighborhoods were in the center of the capital, which caused major traffic disruptions, as the Civil Defense was forced to evacuate some homes, and I believe this is not an appropriate solution; what is needed is a radical and permanent solution through the construction of proper sewage systems, the repair of damaged «drainage channels,» clearing sewage pipes of debris, and, above all, holding accountable those responsible for errors and violations, as well as companies that fail to comply with the required specifications and standards during construction.
Infrastructure Deficiencies
Scenes of damage caused by flash floods and heavy rains have recurred in major cities such as Mecca and Medina, which have experienced the exact same situation and problems, Neighborhoods complain of poor infrastructure, and they fear a repeat of the tragedies that occurred in Jeddah due to errors by companies and the relevant authorities, where streets and roads become blocked during the rainy season—especially in the neighborhoods of Al-Aqool, Al-Matar, Al-Jarf Al-Gharbi, and Al-Ayoun—and there is no solution to this problem without the construction of massive flood control structures to divert the torrents that threaten Medina’s largest hospitals, such as King Fahd Hospital, Ahad Hospital, and Al-Ansar Hospital. According to a number of those affected whose homes are located along wadi channels and flood paths, the damage they have suffered—which has reduced their homes to ruins—requires that those responsible be held accountable. Nayir Al-Rashidi stated that when it rains, homes are flooded, destroying all their contents, including furniture and other belongings.
Drainage Problems in the Western Region
The rains have exposed the poor condition of drainage systems and sewers in a number of cities, causing rainwater to pool in the middle of neighborhoods as well as on major streets and side roads, A resident of Madinah said that the damage is not limited to household furniture but also includes damaged electrical cables and appliances, while another resident noted that the damage assessment committee does not arrive immediately after the rain to inspect the damage in a timely manner, calling on the relevant authorities to compensate residents for the damage caused by the flash floods and rain.
The situation in Mecca is not much different from that in Medina, although the damage in Mecca is not comparable to the damage caused by the rains in Medina, Mecca’s residents suffered greatly during the recent rains, forcing many to abandon their cars and walk the rest of the way, as one college student put it: “We’re facing many difficulties due to the poor drainage systems. Many people suffered amid a complete absence of traffic officers. I suggest training traffic officers to handle such emergency situations and, above all, monitoring the implementation of drainage projects and repairing potholes and ruts on —both on the outskirts and in the city center—before the main streets.
Damage to Cables
The rain caused damage to a number of electrical cables,and this is a crucial point: the damage caused by the rain is not limited to buildings and streets but extends to the destruction of electrical cables, posing a major threat to people’s safety and often forcing residents to cut off the power to protect lives andproperty. One resident describes what happens during and after the rain as utter chaos in the streets, which turn into rivers as the drainage systems are unable to handle the torrents of water. One resident also says that the hardship continues even after the rain stops, especially in working-class neighborhoods that suffer from poor drainage and cracks in the streets, leading to significant difficulties in getting around.
He noted that water pooling and the formation of swamps around a number of homes have become commonplace, and he called on the municipal authority to take a look at the area around his home, which he described as the clearest example of the deteriorating condition of the drainage systems.
Poor Project Implementation
In the Asir region, the rains have exposed the poor implementation of drainage projects, as some major streets have turned into small rivers, hindering traffic in many vital locations and causing several accidents over the past two days. Citizens expressed their dissatisfaction with the state of the drainage network and the manner in which thenew projects, and urged the Asir Municipality to intervene quickly and address the issue.
Amlak identified a number of projects in the cities of Abha, Rijal Al-Ma’a, and Ahad Rafidah that were not implemented as required. One citizen criticized some existing projects for their poor quality, as well as the lack of oversight of the companies and institutions that carry out the work at the lowest cost without regard for quality. For his part, Ali Abdullah Al-Muhanna added that water drainage in the Asir region is one of the persistent problems that has remained unresolved over the past years. He called for the exclusion of construction companies that fail to perform their duties as required. Meanwhile, the governor of the Asir region urged the companies and institutions currently working on these projects to implement the approved plans for drainage and other authorized projects, noting the danger that rainwater accumulation in ponds, swamps, and valleys poses to everyone without exception.
Regarding the status of flood drainage projects in Buraidah, Municipal Council member Abdulrahman Al-Jumhan stated that the council is monitoring the projects currently underway and receives periodic reports from the Al-Qassim Regional Secretariat. We share our observations and ideas with them, and there has been a great deal of responsiveness. A plan has been approved for the next ten years for flood drainage projects, with the announcement of the Water Plan set to be made soon.
Al-Qassim Region
According to the Media Center of the Al-Qassim Region Municipality: Numerous stormwater drainage projects are currently being implemented at various locations in the city of Buraydah in accordance with the established schedule, in addition to projects currently in the bidding process. Comprehensive maintenance and cleaning of all the city’s stormwater drainage networks and stations have also been completed, in addition to cleaning the main drainage channels and retention basins and ensuring their readiness. The relevant department at the municipality has also completed monitoring of all sites used for collecting flood and rainwater in previous years, as well as any new sites based on the city’s topography, and has taken the necessary precautions. However, the poor condition of the streets following rainfall poses a significant danger to citizens, and urgent action is required to prevent the situation from worsening.
