JEDDAH: A small tsunami of raw sewage and floodwater hit the Amal Khair housing development in East Jeddah Wednesday morning, flooding the area and submerging vehicles in the roads.
Residents fled to their roofs as the waters poured into the ground floor of their new houses, wrecking their possessions and filling the villas with filth. Rabia Felemban, a mother of three, was stranded on the roof with her husband and family. She contacted Arab News with details of her plight.
“We have been isolated on the roof since 11 this morning (Wednesday) with no water or food — and our phones are almost out of power,” she said. “We have called the emergency services but until now (4 p.m.) no one has contacted us or come to our aid.”
Felemban said that families in adjacent villas were in the same situation. “We need help, and it has to be a boat. The streets are neck deep in sewage, the stink is awful and the children are in a bad way.”
Arab News contacted sources within the Civil Defense with her location and stressed the urgency of the families’ situation. By 5 p.m. and less than an hour from darkness the latest call with Felemban confirmed that no response had been received.
“For God’s sake do something,” she sobbed. “We are in a serious way here.” It was another three hours before the family was finally rescued.
