MAKKAH: Residents of Al-Mansour district in Makkah are fearful that two giant cranes hanging near their homes for years may collapse.

Residents had complained to the Civil Defense, which had inspected the huge devices and issued a recommendation for Ajyad sub-municipality to remove them, but nothing was done, according to a report in a local publication on Wednesday.

Zakaria Sulaiman Ibrahim said the two cranes have been dangling over their homes for close to 11 years. They were brought in to construct a large market in front of the Red Crescent building in Al-Mansour and had remained there despite the project being completed.

“Our repeated complaints to the Civil Defense to have the cranes removed have been of no use, and it appears no action will be taken unless a disaster occurs,” he said, adding that birds were now nesting in the steel structures.

Idris Ibrahim said that he feared a strong wind would one day blow the cranes over onto their homes and hurt his family. Many residents frequently leave their homes when there are powerful winds because they fear for their lives, he said.

Ibrahim said he found it strange that nothing has been done to prevent such an incident.

Another resident, Abdulwahed Musa, said that one of the cranes on the south side of the market overlooks a kindergarten and threatens many innocent lives.

Hashem Hosawi said the Civil Defense responded to complaints from families by issuing a request to Ajyad sub-municipality earlier this year, but nothing was done.

Brig. Gen. Ahmad Al-Duawaili, director of the Civil Defense in Makkah, said the safety team visited the site and submitted its comments to Ajyad Municipality, requesting immediate removal.

Osama Zaytouni, director of public relations and media at the municipality, was not available for comment, the publication reported.