The recent death of Lama Al-Rouqi in a Tabuk well has left many people in Al-Ahsa region anxious about uncovered wells and has prompted locals to collaborate with authorities to report open wells.

Musad Al-Mughera, who lives in a village in the vicinity of Al-Ahsa region, said that the villagers located an open and unattended well in a farm, which was seized by the Infringements Commission.

“Many families stroll and picnic in this area and hikers come here often as well,” he said, stressing, “the location of the well is dangerous and we demand officials to close the well as soon as possible to prevent the incidence of fateful accidents.”

“We ask the media and governmental entities, especially the Civil Defense, to take a bigger role in raising awareness among people and to launch campaigns about this issue,” he added.

Al-Mughera also demanded stricter penalties against farm owners who refused to cooperate with officials in covering wells.

“We tried to cover wells around our village ourselves fearing that our children would fall in one of the wells, but we need support and proper equipment,” he indicated.

Fahd Al-Hamad, another resident in the region, pointed out that the dangerous location of the well and the flagrant neglect raised serious questions and concerns.

“I am shocked that the Infringements Commission did not deal with the well. Was it not mentioned in the commission’s report? We had to cover the well with bricks to protect our children,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Abdulrahman Al-Saad, another citizen, said, “The uncovered well is located in an agricultural area, which means cooperation between the Civil Defense, the Ministry of Water and Electricity, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Irrigation Commission is imperative to put an end to this dangerous phenomenon.”

Hassan Al-Majid, a hiker who visits Al-Shuaba Mountain in Al-Ahsa region regularly, cautioned that immediate action must be taken to cover the well because the area is frequented by families and lies in close proximity to a playground.

Abdulwahab Al-Salem and Khalifa Al-Sadoun, two concerned citizens, pointed out that they covered an open well in Knazan Mountain.

“We will continue doing what we can to protect our children, until an official agency sets up and takes on this responsibility.”

Abdulwahab Al-Mousa, director of Al-Ahsa Water Department at the Agriculture Ministry, revealed that they filed nine reports regarding the presence of uncovered wells in different parts of Al-Ahsa region to the Water Department via the Eastern Province’s Civil Defense Department.



Al-Mousa said that the Water Department is currently handling the situation by closing or backfilling the wells in coordination with the concerned authorities.

“Many wells located in Al-Hada scheme south of Al-Ahsa were closed and work is in progress to handle the other wells including Al-Shuaba Mountain,” he added.