Speaking to Arab News, he said the department has taken steps to confront possible fires at car parking areas around Makkah, power plants, maintenance centers, hotels, tunnels and residential buildings. “Other potential dangers are drivers running over pedestrians, people fainting because of overcrowding, stampedes at the Grand Mosque’s gates and possible chaos as a result of power cuts and heavy downpours,” he explained.
Al-Matrafi said the department is also ready for tackling possible tremors, landslides, contagious diseases, food poisoning as a result of consuming contaminated food or drinks, and environmental pollution.
Al-Matrafi said the department coordinates with relevant government agencies to deal with possible dangers during the peak Umrah season in Ramadan when millions of pilgrims and worshippers assemble in Makkah for the lesser pilgrimage.
“We have prepared a strategic plan to deal with all these dangerous situations, may Allah protect us from them, in coordination with other government departments,” Al-Matrafi said.
The department has also readied seven centers in various parts of the city to deal with emergency cases including fire accidents, Col. Al-Matrafi said.
These centers have a total of 56 firefighting units, 32 rescue teams, 12 rapid intervention teams, seven first-aid units and seven floodwater rescue units, he added.
The department has divided Makkah into seven areas and deployed special officers for the purpose of overseeing the safety situation in those areas and removing potential dangers. “This way we try to prevent dangers before they happen,” Al-Matrafi said.
