Efforts on to clear floodwaters, smoothen traffic flow

The Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry said it received 1,000 calls from flooded neighborhoods in the first four hours of rain that lashed the Southern Governorate and other parts of the Kingdom on Saturday.

The ministry also confirmed that some of those cases were referred to the Civil Defence Directorate within the Interior Ministry and 33 water suction tankers have been deployed to clear floodwaters. The ministry said that the heaviest downpours were reported in East Riffa, the western area in the Northern Governorate, Sitra and Nuwaidrat.

“The municipalities in the four governorates formed emergency teams to respond to notifications from citizens and residents,” the ministry stated. Municipalities Affairs Undersecretary Dr. Nabeel Abulfath said 18 suction tankers were deployed in Riffa alone, in addition to several pumps.

The official also said that Manama and its suburbs were provided with nine tankers and six have been deployed in the Northern Governorate so far. Dr. Abulfath inspected some of the areas affected by rain to ensure that water suction operations are smoothly ongoing.

He instructed emergency teams to put full efforts in residential blocks and near schools, hospitals, markets, and hospitals. Dr. Abulfath explained: “ The majority of the cases was dealt by the municipalities and was handled on a priority basis. The emergency teams are working on a 24-hour basis to ensure the smooth traffic flow.”

Works Affairs Undersecretary Ahmed Al Khayat also inspected several areas in all governorates of the kingdom yesterday.