Introduction: Jeddah, the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia, was hit by torrential rains on 24 November 2009, killing at least 500 people and leaving possibly up to 1,000 more people missing. The rains fell as the annual Hajj pilgrimage to nearby Mecca in Makkah Province was underway. The rain was reported as one of the worst flash flooding events in Saudi Arabia in the last 27 years.

The flash floods primarily impacted the coastal city of Jeddah, after nearly 3.5 inches (nine centimeters) of rain fell in just over four hours. The daily rain total equaled nearly twice what the region normally receives in an entire year. It was also reported to be the heaviest Saudi Arabian accumulation in over a decade. Kilometer 14 was reported as one of the most affected areas in Jeddah.

Probable Causes & Effects

Meteorological Department Officials have preliminarily indicated that climatic change is the reason for the huge volume of rainfall; the victims, meanwhile, blame bad infrastructure and the non-implementation of the Jeddah Flood Drainage Project as the probable cause of the mishap. Since the floods, environmental experts have also warned the authorities to take precautionary measures to avoid any collapse of the dam in Lake Musk (a raw sewage storage area), which exists due to the lack of proper sewage network in the city.

According to civil defense officials, at least 8,000 homes and other structures, as well as 8,828 vehicles were damaged or destroyed. Dozens of roads were submerged under at least three feet (one meter) of water; the street flooding led to the drowning deaths of dozens of motorists in their vehicles. Both pilgrims and local residents were swept away by the raging floodwaters, resulting in more fatalities.

The most significant damage was reported in the southern sections of Jeddah, including King Abdulaziz University. Damages to the University are estimated at approx. USD 427 million. Additional damage and fatalities were also reported in the cities of Mecca and Rabigh. The event led to a Government disaster decree, while King Abdullah launched a full official investigation into the widespread nature of the damage and fatalities.

Emergency Evacuation centers have been set up in the city to cater to the victims and several charity and civil organizations are involved in providing help to the affected people.

Estimated Losses:

Initial total damage losses are estimated at US$933 million – and that total is expected to rise as further assessments are made. At least US$533 million of the total came from damage to the region’s infrastructure (including buildings, bridges and roads), while business losses are estimated at US$270 million.

Measures Taken

Officials from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of the Interior are helping to assess the likely insurance payments. Once the investigations have been completed, claims are expected to be paid within a two- week timeframe, an official from the Ministry of Finance said.

Insurance companies in the region have started receiving claim notifications from their clients and are proceeding with adjusting them. One of the Kingdom’s major insurance companies has advised that they have received their first group of claims, estimated to amount to SR 1.7 Million.

Many companies have set up Toll Free phone numbers and extended working days to cater to the needs of clients with losses from the floods.