A visually impaired Saudi almost lost his life Wednesday when he narrowly missed dropping into an open three-meter “trench” full of sewage in a Jeddah street.

Muhammad Bellou was returning home from a nearby mosque after performing Isha prayers. The “trench” had been dug up in front of his house, which did not have any warning signs or protective blocks around.

Speaking to Arab News, Bellou said: “Had it not been for my driver and a cousin who was following me, and for my cane which I use to feel my way around, I would have fallen into the hole.”

A local contractor has taken up a sewerage project in the street, and at the end of day, the workers just left the location without bothering to put warning signs or blocks, which shows that they do not care for the safety of residents, he said.

Bellou said there was a signboard on the street which gave the phone number of the contractor, but when he tried to call him and warn him of the danger, there was no response. “I kept calling for hours but no one answered my calls,” he said.

“The situation is very dangerous since the ‘trench’ extends all along the street, and some people living in this area are visually impaired. In my house alone, there are three visually impaired persons, among whom is my younger brother, not to mention the many elderly people and children living around,” he said.

There must be someone who is responsible for taking these companies to task for their negligence of duty. It is the lives of people that are at stake here, he said.

Sami Nawar of Jeddah Municipality said he felt sorry for what happened to Bellou, and promised that the contractor will be held accountable.

“We will ensure that he puts up protective concrete blocks around the areas he has dug up and make him sign an undertaking not to repeat these acts,” he said.