Residents have called on the mayoralty to urgently fix an incomplete flood water canal in the Al-Faisalia District because it poses a health and safety risk. The canal is being constructed in the vicinity of the Al-Faisalia Drinking Water Distribution Station in northern Jeddah. There were two rockslides on the road adjacent to the canal, which passes through the middle of the residential district. Bandar Al-Shaibani, a resident of Al-Faisalia 5 District, said water level in the floodwater canal had been rising noticeably. He said he was afraid that the canal would overflow and spread disease. Al-Shaibani said residents hoped that the work would be completed as promised by the mayoralty and that parks, promenades and children's playgrounds would be built over the canal, as promised by the mayoralty. “But today, the only thing that residents want, is to have all the water drained out that has been accumulating in the canal, and to have the open parts covered. Then we can talk about the parks and playgrounds,” said Al-Shaibani. Ali Al-Harbi, a resident of Al-Faisalia District, said that both the Civil Defense and Jeddah Mayoralty operations rooms have been notified about the situation, but claims that no concern has been shown by officials. The two departments had not inspected the area yet, he said. He expressed fear about the condition of the roads and the possibility that cave-ins could occur at certain locations. Muhammad Ahmad and Alaa Muhammad said that despite closing the street to vehicles until the floodwater canal was covered completely, water tanker trucks from the Al-Faisalia Drinking Water Distribution Station have continued to use it. They said that many water tanker trucks, weighing several tons each, use the canal's covered parts as illegal parking lots in broad daylight. This was happening while the mayoralty's teams worked in the area. The heavy vehicles have caused some parts of the road to collapse. The telephone, water and electricity networks have also been exposed. Ahmad Al-Ghamdi, Director of Public Relations and Information at the Jeddah Mayoralty, said the mayoralty had closed the road adjacent to the floodwater canal until work on the canal was completed. He said that field teams have been sent to the area to carry out inspections and to limit any hazards to residents.
