Zuhair Nawab allayed fears about aftershocks in the Red Sea, saying they would not reach residential areas.
Speaking to Arab News, Nawab said the number of quake observation stations in the Kingdom would reach 100.
"We have not observed any indication of tremors in the Kingdom’s Western coasts,” the SGS chief said, adding that minor seismic movements in the area do not pose any danger to the residents.
He warned against the flow of underground water into shabby households in the eastern and southern residential districts of Jeddah following the recent flash floods.
About 40 percent of these houses are likely to collapse if quick measures are not taken to prevent floodwater creeping in.
Nawab also stressed the need to strictly apply the new building code approved by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs on real estates to be constructed in these districts, adding that the new code could solve the problem of accumulating underground water.
The code will also enable new buildings to withstand tremors.
“There are several houses and other buildings that are constructed illegally in the area. The foundations of these buildings will not be able to withstand any geological movements,” he pointed out. “Cracks have appeared on some of these buildings, posing a danger to their residents.”
A committee has been set up to identify buildings likely to collapse. According to one report, there are about 8,000 such buildings in various parts of Jeddah.
