The most recent was a house in the historical part of the city that fell down in front of a group that was set up to save the city’s heritage.
The SCTA and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) signed an agreement last May to train people to maintain and preserve old houses that could then be converted into tourist spots and generate jobs.
Awwad Al-Subhi, chairman of the heritage committee, said it was regretful that houses continue to fall despite the SCTA and TVTC agreement. He recalled that a few days ago he passed through the historical Al-Sour area of Yanbu and noticed that several buildings had collapsed there.
Al-Subhi said it is not expensive to repair and maintain old houses.
“A few thousand riyals are enough to keep the houses for coming generations who should see how their ancestors lived,” he said, adding that he is confident that if the program — called “It Should Not Fall” — is carried out, members of the public would become more aware of the need to preserve the region’s history.