Extra precautions taken to deal with floods during Haj

The Civil Defense has taken extra precautionary measures to save pilgrims from possible flash floods during this Haj season, following heavy rains in Makkah and the surrounding holy sites in the past few days.
“We have studied potential dangers during the Haj season in the light of previous pilgrimages and taken adequate measures to deal with them by deploying trained staff,” said Lt. Gen. Saad Al-Tuwaijri, head of civil defense.
The department has mobilized about 26,000 men with 6,900 advanced equipment and devices to protect pilgrims from accidents, floods, fires, stampedes and other dangers.
The department has appointed 300 firefighters who can move on motorbikes to extinguish fire in difficult locations. “We make use of modern communication technology to locate accident spots quickly,” Al-Tuwaijri said.
Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman of the Interior Ministry, said 13,000 security training students have been deployed to prevent squatting in the streets and public places in Makkah and other holy sites.
“We have taken all measures to reduce squatting in Mina and other holy sites by some groups of pilgrims. We’ll not allow anybody to sit in the way to the Jamrat,” he added.
Al-Turki said he had not received any reports regarding pilgrims shouting slogans during this Haj season. “This shows that pilgrims are well aware of Haj regulations.”
Maj. Gen. Abdullah Al-Ghasham, director of civil protection, said his department has readied four camps with a total capacity of 60,000 people to accommodate pilgrims during emergency situations.
He said all the four camps are provided with healthcare and food facilities. “We have also identified a number of government buildings to accommodate pilgrims,” he pointed out.
There is a camp in Muaisem with a capacity of 10,000 pilgrims, two camps in Arafat with a total capacity of 20,000 pilgrims, and a model camp in Muzdalifa that can house more than 30,000 pilgrims.
A number of government schools as well as buildings of Um Al-Qura University and private hotels and furnished apartments would be used to accommodate pilgrims during emergency situations, he added.
“We have also arranged 200 buses to transport pilgrims in such situations,” he added.