He said eight units would be checking daily the water drainage network in Makkah for cleaning and maintenance, while 10 other teams would be checking the networks in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah on a daily basis.

Al-Bar said the municipality was giving much attention to the rainwater drainage system, which is regularly checked by specialized teams with sufficient expertise. “Work to maintain and clean the drainage system is carried out all through the year to be able to deal with rains and avoid any damage,” he said.

Al-Bar noted that rains in Makkah were scarce and would fall in a limited period of time but said their risks often came from unexpected rains.

“The municipality has made thorough plans to deal with possible rains and floods during the Haj season,” he reiterated.

The mayor said Makkah has a 126 km drainage network, including pipes and canals.

The length of drainage network in the holy sites is 130 km, including 55 km in Mina, 30 km in Arafat and 45 km in Muzdalifah.

He said the maintenance and cleaning teams worked around the clock, especially during the period of 7-13 Dul Hijjah (Nov. 3 to 9). “We intensify our work between the months of Ramadan and Dul Hijjah,” he added.