2009 Jeddah floods

K

In November 2009 there were heavy floods in Jeddah and other parts of the province of Mecca on the west coast of Saudi Arabia. They were called by representatives of civil defense as the worst of the last 27 years. Until Sunday, November 29, 2009 106 deaths were reported, and more than 350 people were missing. The number of victims was posted on January 3, 2010 with 122 known deaths and a further 37 missing persons. Some roads were on Thursday, November 26, a meter under water, and it is thought that many of the victims have drowned in their cars. At least 3,000 vehicles were swept away or damaged.

On Wednesday 25 November fell in Jeddah within just 4 hours, more than 90 millimeters of rain. This is almost twice the average precipitation for one year and the heaviest rain in Saudi Arabia for ten years. The flood happened just two days before the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice and during the annual hajj to Mecca adjacent. The economic damage is estimated at one billion riyals ( approximately 180 million euros ). The poorer residential areas in the south of Jeddah were particularly hard hit, as is the area around the King Abdulaziz University. Since the university was closed at the time of the flood due to holidays, there were not more victims.

Geographical and hydrological situation

Jeddah is located on the coast of the Red Sea below the northern slopes of the Great African grave breach, the mountains of the Hejaz, which reach heights of 600 to 1,000 meters in the area. In the city of about 3.4 million people ( 2009 estimate ) on a settlement area of 1765 km ², which gives a population density of 1,900 inhabitants / km ² results. The climate is arid. Most precipitation falls during the months of November to January, mostly in the form of thunderstorms.

At least eleven wadis converge in the city, and after rains occur frequently localized flooding. The City Council is currently investing 1 billion riyals ( approximately 180 million euros ) in the road drainage, but the cost of a nationwide system is estimated to be an additional 3 million rials (about 540 million euros ). In November 2009, only about 30 % of the urban area were protected against flash floods, and even these often with drainage pipes of 25 mm diameter.

The Hajj 2009

Wednesday November 25th was the first day of the annual hajj, a four-day pilgrimage to the holy places of Islam in and around Mecca. Most pilgrims from abroad travel a by air or by sea via Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. This year the number of foreign pilgrims was like that of the native lower than in previous years, possibly due to health concerns about the influenza pandemic .. However, the number of participants is estimated at the Hajj more than 1.6 million, including 200,000 alone from Indonesia.

According to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of the Interior no pilgrims were among the victims of the flood. However, the main road was closed from Jeddah to Mecca on November 25, leaving thousands of pilgrims were stuck. Parts of the 80km road were washed away, and the Dschamia Bridge in the east of Jeddah was a partial breakdown. The road remained closed until November 26, and it was feared that the bridge could collapse completely.

In Mecca there was on November 25, unusually heavy rainfall, as well as in neighboring Mina, where many pilgrims are housed in large tent cities. By 26 November, the weather had improved, and the pilgrims were exposed on the second day of the Hajj on the Arafat " scorching heat ".