These worries were further heightened by reports on a number of Internet sites warning people that heavy rains were expected soon. The sites also circulated a warning by an alleged Japanese observatory that forecast heavy rains for the central and western regions of the Kingdom in September and October.
The residents, racked by swirling rumors and reports of heavy rains in other areas of the Kingdom, still clearly remember similar warnings by a Russian met office before the rain crises of the past two years, which left more than 130 people dead and damaged more than 10,000 vehicles.
Meteorology expert, Ali Ishki denied the speculations of the Japanese met office, and said the accuracy of weather forecast does not usually exceed 10 percent. “Most foreign observatories do not survey distant locations,” he said. He advised residents only to heed to the warnings and advisories issued by the Saudi Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME).
In recent reports, PME spokesman Hussain Al-Qahtani, said the presidency had already addressed the departments concerned warning them that heavy rains were expected to fall in the Western Region during autumn season that would begin on Sept. 23. He said heavy rains were also expected during the Haj season in November.
Talking to Arab News, a number of residents in south Jeddah said they were worried that a worst case scenario of rains might be repeated.
“I will vacate my house in south Jeddah and take all valuables to a safe place,” Hassan Attiyah, who lives in the Al-Harazat district, said. “I am not ready to gamble for the third time,” he added.
Attiyah noted that a number of projects to drain flood and rain water were not yet completed. “I take these warnings seriously. I am shifting to another place in the city,” he said.
Director of Nesma Company, which is implementing the drainage projects, Saleh Al-Turki, expected the schemes to be completed in 110 days of which 40 days have already passed.
