VZCZCXRO0661
OO RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR RUEHROV
DE RUEHJI #0456/01 3301410
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 261410Z NOV 09
FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1623
INFO RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH IMMEDIATE 8604
RUEHDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN IMMEDIATE 0175
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000456 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, SE/S-O, CA/OCS/ACS-NESA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC PGOV SA SENV
SUBJECT: JEDDAH REGION FLOODING ON FIRST DAY OF HAJJ: 77 
CITY RESIDENTS DIE 
 
JEDDAH 00000456  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Media reported that flash flooding 
yesterday (November 25) in Jeddah killed 77 and stranded up 
to 1,000, especially in the poorer districts to the east and 
south of the city. Total casualty estimates may rise.  Rain, 
a rare occurrence in this region and reported to be "the 
worst in 27 years," lasted from Wednesday morning into the 
early afternoon with reported rainfall of 140 millimeters 
(5.5 inches).  The heavy rain caused extensive damage in 
Jeddah, a city without the infrastructure to support 
flooding, with one fear being the overflow of a sewage 
reservoir.  Although the rain drenched many of the 2 million 
pilgrims on their first day of Hajj in Mecca, it seems the 
effect in the Muslim holy city was more limited.  The next 
few weeks will be devoted to clean-up in Jeddah, with no 
further rain being forecast at this time. So far there have 
been no serious problems related to the flooding reported by 
any of the several thousand American citizens performing the 
pilgrimage, and all Mission staff are accounted for.  End 
summary. 
 
 
77 die in flooding 
------------------ 
 
¶2.   (U) The Jeddah Civil Defense Department and now Saudi TV 
is reporting that 77 people in Jeddah have been killed in the 
flooding (up from 13 and then 48 reported earlier).  Most 
deaths were due to drowning, but some were the result of 
collapsing bridges or car accidents in the flooding.  Rescue 
services reported 900-1,000 persons were stranded in houses 
inundated by water.  Local government has moved some 
residents of affected areas to temporary housing in wedding 
and event halls and has deployed 120 rescue teams across the 
city, with water pumps and a thousand foreign workers to 
clean up the flood devastation. 
 
 
Fears of sewage overflow 
------------------------ 
 
¶3.   (U) Officials are warning of an overflow at "Misk" Lake, 
a waste dump of unprocessed sewage located in Guiza, 40 
minutes northeast of the center of Jeddah.  The lake is 
currently held back by a dam, but due to the rising water 
level, the Saudi Meteorological Agency fears a collapse of 
the dam, according to Arabic daily Okaz.  Health officials 
are said to be working to avert a medical emergency. 
 
 
Flooding caused devastation in Jeddah 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.   (SBU) Since Jeddah lacks the infrastructure to support 
heavy rainfall -- inadequate or non-existent drainage systems 
and underground sewers and no means to keep water from 
residential areas -- the 5.5-inch rainstorm within a few 
hours caused extensive damage. Three bridges collapsed, roads 
were treacherous, and power was down for hours.  ConGenOffs 
driving through Jeddah streets yesterday witnessed small 
streets and main thoroughfares flooded over the sidewalks, 
hundreds of stalled cars, and some impassable areas due to 
fallen signs, trees, and debris.  The sister of a ConGen FSN 
was forced to retreat to the roof of her house with her 
family in eastern Jeddah as floodwaters inundated the rest of 
the residence.  She was rescued and is currently living with 
family elsewhere in Jeddah, unsure of when she can return. 
Another ConGen FSN reported seeing a bus almost completely 
covered with water in an underground tunnel in the center of 
the city. Other contacts have described neighborhoods in 
Sulaimaniyah and other areas yesterday as resembling "car 
junkyards" and "flowing rivers." 
 
 
Roadways closed for Hajj 
------------------------ 
 
¶5.   (U) Due to the collapse of two bridges on the 
Jeddah-Mecca roadway, officials have been forced to open 
alternative routes for Hajj pilgrims traveling to the holy 
city.  Although there are reports of some pilgrims being 
forced out of tents in Mina and into hotels and other nearby 
 
JEDDAH 00000456  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
shelters due to rainstorms and flooding, damage in Mecca has 
not been comparable to that in Jeddah. 
 
 
American citizens report few problems 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Post has been in contact with the major Hajj tour 
company for American citizens, Dar El Salam, which reports no 
serious problems with their pilgrims, other than the 
inconvenience and discomfort of getting soaked.  No emergency 
calls from American citizens have been received thus far at 
the ConGen and the Embassy/Consulate pilgrims, CDC team, and 
a small DoD group are all reported to be fine.  Ministry of 
Hajj authorities confirm there have been no deaths or 
injuries to  Americans pilgrims.  The Consulate in downtown 
Jeddah experienced minor flooding Wednesday but was able to 
host a Thanksgiving lunch for 60 host country contacts and 
staff without incident after clean-up crew was called in; 
about a dozen guests regretted due to the rain. 
 
 
¶7.   (SBU) Comment: With the weather forecast not calling for 
any more rain, the Jeddah Municipality will be working for 
the next few weeks on clean-up.  By the afternoon of 
Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.), roads 
have already begun to dry, at least in the main areas and the 
more affluent parts of the city.  Jeddah's airport has 
reported no flight problems aside from three diverted flights 
to Medina on Wednesday.  The main challenge for the 
municipality will be moving displaced residents back into 
their flood-wrecked homes in the south and east of Jeddah. A 
potential health hazard will be standing water, a breeding 
ground for mosquitoes.  End comment. 
QUINN