350 still missing after rains

12:10, 28 November 2009

JEDDAH. November 28. KAZINFORM Rescue operations were still continuing particularly in the badly affected areas to the east of the city as the death toll of the recent torrential rains and floods that swept through Jeddah was put at 85 by Civil Defense on Friday. However, three more bodies seen by Arab News reporters were discovered in Quwizah district later, bringing the number of the dead to 88; Kazinform refers to the Arab News.

Capt. Abdullah Al-Amri, the Civil Defense spokesman, said 37 bodies, all Saudis, had been handed over to their families and relatives for burial.

There were, however, no confirmed statistics about the number of people missing but reports Friday put them at above 350.

Director General of Civil Defense in Jeddah Gen. Muhamamd Abdul Rahman Al-Ghamdi said that a total of 1,251 people, whose homes were completely or partially damaged by the rains and the floods, had been accommodated in furnished apartments following an instruction by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. He said efforts were currently under way to provide accommodation to other families.

Gen. Al-Ghamdi said the king's gesture covered all the residents of Jeddah affected by the disaster, whether they were Saudis or foreigners. He pointed out that his department would be able to deal with the problem of identities and official documents lost in the rain although it was causing delay in accommodating the victims.

"The department is now surveying all the affected areas looking for casualties and survivors," he added.

Al-Ghamdi said a special committee was currently assessing damage to homes, cars and other property to inform relevant authorities with a view to future compensation; Kazinform cites the Arab News.

See www.arabnews.com for full version

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