Over 40 key figures held over Jeddah flood disaster

Riyadh: Saudi authorities have detained more than 40 people as part of an investigation into last month's deadly flash floods that claimed the lives of at least 122 and missing of many people.

The detainees included current and former government and municipal officials as well as company executives and contractors, who had direct involvement in implementing infrastructure projects in the eastern parts of the city, worst hit by the disaster.

"Their detention was made on the ground of substantial evidence, pointing either to their involvement or dereliction of duty, obtained by the higher panel formed by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to probe the incident," well-informed government sources told Gulf News.

The committee, headed by Governor of Makkah Region Prince Khaled Al Faisal, and comprising senior officials of concerned government departments, is now cross-examining some of the officials, the sources said.

The quick action by the committee follows the directive of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to conduct a probe into all aspects of the incident without delay and would take to task all officials responsible for the catastrophe. Detention of the officials and contractors coincides with the king's emphatic statement on Sunday about taking strict action against those found responsible for turning the disaster into a catastrophe.

In an interview with Kuwait's Al Seyassah Arabic daily, the Saudi monarch said: "We will not show any leniency toward those who were negligent in carrying out their duties. Investigations are still underway to determine who was responsible for this disaster... The floods have shown us what we should do in the coming days in order to improve the infrastructure in Jeddah and other cities," he added.

The November 25 flash floods caused by heavy rain devastated parts of the city destroying many buildings and streets, and leaving tens of thousands homeless. The disaster sparked rare public outrage, with residents taking to the Internet to call for the sacking of top municipal officials for mismanagement and alleged corruption.

Many have questioned who is to blame for factors that made the devastation worse such as the absence of a city-wide drainage system. It has been found that many "vital" projects have failed to meet construction standards demanded by contract agreements, creating vulnerability that has contributed as much to the magnitude of the disaster.

The detainees are said to have a direct involvement in facilitating procedures of land ownership and approving government projects in flood routes, in the eastern districts of Jeddah. The high level investigating committee, on Friday, asked the mayor's office to provide it with all files pertaining to all deputy mayors in charge for construction and services over the past 30 years.

The sources informed Gulf News that the detainees included notaries as well as senior officials of the mayor's office, and department of water and sewage. A former head of the water and sewage department, who was earlier sentenced for some other crime, was also held on Saturday morning.

"A senior security official at the Makkah governorate, who had allegedly been benefited from gross violations, will also be interrogated in addition to a number of businessmen and contractors," the sources said adding that there is no point to think that all those people, who have taken in to custody, were responsible for the catastrophe.

"Some of the officials, who have been taken into custody, noted that they will provide the committee with key facts and important documents that would support the ongoing investigation," the sources pointed out.