The death count from the recent flooding in Jeddah continues to rise as the water continues to recede and more bodies are found. However there is now an increased risk of disease such as dengue fever and other illnesses due to the polluted pools of water remaining around the city. Hundreds of Jeddah residents have also lost their homes due to extensive flood damage. Although rain can be a natural disaster the tragedy in Jeddah is magnified due to the lack of preparations on the part of authorities. Jeddah is a beautiful and rich city home to many royals and high profile business leaders. It is also the seat of commerce in Saudi Arabia. Sadly though, a proper infrastructure and appropriate drainage has yet to be implemented. Until this is done, Jeddah will continue to have floods each time there are heavy rains.
Filed under: culture, Health, safety, Saudi culture, travel, Uncategorized, weather Tagged: | culture shock, Jeddah, KSA, marriage, places, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Saudi customs, travel, weather
700, but then I have been very busy this month, and not with blogging
oh, this was for the quiz-thingy…
Jetlag I suppose….
you’re forgiven! (big smile)
I heard on some saudi newspapers in the UK they were claiming over 500 dead, which was lowered by the gov’t to less than 100. I wonder what is true??
The fact that there is still raw sewage emptied into the famous lake, etc, makes flooding even more hazardous.
Arbgrlusa – I fear that the number is closer or even more than 500. I have another article coming up which was shared with me and includes some candid photos. This article also gives specifics on those who wish to help the victims who are still trying to clean out and rebuild.
saying that only a 1000 died would be being optimistic. entire buildings collapsed with their inhabitants. thousands are missing as well, but papers only say a 100-something died and a few are missing.
whenever dead bodies are uncovered in an area, civil defense sends away the volunteers and the medical teams and tells them to call it a day.
Quwaiza, Kilo 14, University district all got flooded. people lost family, homes, an entire lifetime of trying to provide for their families. those districts are not rich, people there live hand to mouth, took them years to be able to own their home or a car and now it’s all gone and each official accuses the last of corruption.
either that or just saying it’s “God’s will” that those people died/lost homes/ et cetera. and some people actually believe them. everything is “God’s will”, but blaming their lack of ethics on God is a tad too much…
i wrote a lot, sorry about that. Jeddah is my home, it hurts me to see it neglected in such a manner.
@Asmaa – do not apologize for feeling you have written too much or too graphic. I am certain everyone can understand the feelings on seeing such a travesty happen in your home town. And it always seems that the places that have tragedies always seem to occur where the poorer people live, such as Jeddah or for example, during Katrina in New Orleans, USA.
asmaa – i am sorry for you, and i am sorry that the gov’t sees fit with our great wealth that this can happen…Not the rains of course, that is nature, but rather the lack of drainage, emergency care, sewage, etc.
Thank you Bedu for bringing this up.