As they struggle to pick up the pieces of their lives, city residents are now being haunted by the horrific memories of loved ones, neighbors and fellow residents dying in the floods. Yahya Al-Zahrani will remember the tragic scenes of loss and destruction last week in Jeddah for the rest of his life. On the day the flood waters rushed through the city, Al-Zahrani was crossing the Harmain Road to the north. He feared for his life as the flood waters roared around him as he was driving his car. He started seeing motorists leap out of their cars and run in all directions as the water rushed up against their vehicles. He decided to do the same and also abandoned his car to join the terrified people running to safety. Al-Zahrani said he then saw a car being pulled away by the water and a man in the car calling for help for him and his family. Al-Zahrani said there was nothing he could do because in a few seconds the water swept away the car with the entire family trapped inside it. Al-Zahrani said he continued to run. He stopped for a few seconds to catch his breath, but was forced to start running again as the floodwaters advanced towards him. He ran as fast as he could until he found some high ground where he was able to stop and rest. He said the cars were being swept away like children's toys in a stream of water. Drowning people were clutching in vain to anything that could keep them afloat, but many were just completely overcome by the power of the water. He said he has been having sleepless nights since witnessing these tragic events. He has now decided to move to the Southern region in the hope that he can forget everything. Ali Al-Abassi saw with his own eyes the death of the entire family of Yahya Qerat, the Imam of one the mosques in the neighborhood where he lives. Al-Abassi said that Sheikh Yahya was heading to Makkah for Haj with his wife and their children - his daughter Doha, 17, son Abdullah, 8, Ahamd, 12, and his newly born baby girl. When they reached the Jeddah to Makkah highway, the flood engulfed the Imam's car. Sheikh Yahya was found dead in the car, clutching his newborn baby girl. They could not find the rest of his family. A few days later, they found the Imam's wife dead in Kilo 2 in north Jeddah far away from the car. His daughter's corpse was found under the wooden bridge at the intersection of Al-Rawabi Road.
