Jeddah Mayoralty has taken preventive measures after warnings from Japanese observatories that heavy rains would lash the Arabian Peninsula, particularly the Makkah area, next month. But Ali Ishqi, professor of Environmental Sciences at King Abdulaziz University, dismissed the warnings as incorrect. “The information is incorrect and has no scientific basis,” he said. It is not possible to make accurate weather predictions that far in advance, Dr. Ishqi stressed. He said people should not be scared because the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) monitors the weather and promptly detects any turbulence in the weather. Muhammad Qattan, Director of the Water Department at Jeddah Mayoralty, said officials monitor weather forecasts and take all necessary measures to ward off rain and flood threats. Work is going on around-the-clock to clean rain- and floodwater-drainage canals and the sanitary-drainage network in all of Jeddah's districts, he added. Qattan said there are 25-km of drainage canals in southern Jeddah, 20-km of the canals in northern Jeddah and other drainage canals in eastern Jeddah, Al-Yaum Arabic daily reported Friday. Qattan said efforts being made by the Executive Committee, under the chairmanship of the Emir of Makkah region, to carry out projects in critical areas would guarantee prevention of any rain-related disasters in Jeddah unless the downpour exceeds the average level. Officials have briefed the Emir about some dangerous sites in Jeddah's residential districts, he added. Maj. Gen. Adel Zamzami, Director of Civil Defense in Makkah region, said his organization monitors information on the Internet provided by three global observatories that provide warnings about the possible occurrence of heavy rain in Makkah area. The Civil Defense coordinates with the PME and asks it about any information that is circulated through the Internet, he added. Gen. Zamzami emphasized that there are 16 dangerous districts in Jeddah and an executive plan for them was approved by the Emir of Makkah on Aug. 31. The plan includes requirements for every government administration, each of which knows its role and the work required of it in case of heavy rainfall and disasters, Gen. Zamzami said. He confirmed that there is coordination with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities to shelter residents in furnished apartments and hotels in the face of any calamity. Several other locations including sports halls and pilgrims' city halls have also been allocated as shelters for victims of natural disasters, he added. In the course of scrutinizing the dangerous districts, authorities have started pinpointing the critical areas and taken precautionary measures including construction of five dams and flood-drainage canals and allotting manpower, machinery and equipment to respond to emergencies, Gen. Zamzami said. “We expect matters to be normal even if there is heavy rainfall because great efforts are being exerted,” he said. “Also, there are urgent projects that are being carried out and these would contribute greatly in mitigating rain and flood hazards and protecting Jeddah's residents.” Hussein Al-Qattani, PME spokesman, said the presidency places all information it has on its website and anyone can read reports it publishes on climatic changes and weather forecasts.
