The destruction caused by the heavy rains that hit Jeddah on Jan. 26, just over one year after the November 2009 floods, still stirs fear in the minds of residents.
The scene of devastation is still evident in the damaged sidewalks, shops and houses, and the smashed cars left abandoned on roads and underground car parks. The worst hit areas belong to the lower middle class and poor districts of Jeddah, where people have lost not only loved ones but also their homes.
“The road from King Abdullah Road toward Palestine Road was blocked for a week after the floods; the water has still not been pumped out. This only proves the municipality seems to be incompetent and irresponsible. There is a need for a fundamentally stable infrastructure. It makes me feel I live in a Third World country with a Fourth World philosophy,” said Omar, aged 23.
Photographs depicting the destruction of thousands of cars piled on top of one another, stranded on highways and flyovers, as well as damaged houses in various neighborhoods, are common.
“The sight of the flood that day has discouraged me to venture out. I just go to work. Most roads are damaged, something that makes driving a nuisance,” said Hamza, 25.
With school holidays under way, families usually venture out for recreational activities with their children toward the Corniche and enjoy camping outdoors. “We usually enjoy the weather at this time of the year and go on picnics with family and friends where our children enjoy cycling on the Corniche,” said housewife Maya.
“But because of the horror of the floods, we are staying indoors and taking precautions. Most of the roads to the outskirts of Jeddah are blocked and we have already witnessed our car drowning in water,” she added.
A major furniture store in Jeddah that makes a quarter of its sale turnover during this period is “quite empty,” said Sumayya, a local shopper. “This is usually the season when everyone is shopping, trying to get the best deals. However, after the disaster, it looks like people just want to rebuild their homes and are not enthusiastic about shopping. Most of us are trying to restructure our lives and homes overcoming the mental anguish following the floods. We cannot by infused by thoughts of shopping. It is a little too soon and maybe a bit selfish to do so. We should try and reconstruct homes, not indulge in other pleasures,” she said.
It is also quite normal for people from across the Kingdom to visit Jeddah for shopping and recreation during the school holiday season. Things have, however, changed with Jeddawis making plans to leave the city.
Mahmoud, a local Saudi, said his family usually comes to Jeddah in the holidays. “But they refused to come due to the floods … Most of our friends and family are gathering in Makkah or Madinah,” he added.
