Yemen – Old City of Sana’a threatened with collapse
YEMEN – Tens of houses in three governorates collapsed due to heavy rains. The continuing heavy rains in recent days have caused property damages, financial losses and deaths in several governorates.
One woman has died, tens of houses have collapsed, animals have been lost, and expanses of agricultural areas and roads have been washed away resulting in tens of millions of riyals in losses.
The heavy rains also caused the collapse of two houses in old Sana’a in the Khidair area, which resulted in the death of one woman.
Mutahar Taki, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, said that many of the Old Sana’a houses are susceptible to collapse because of the heavy rains, adding that the collapse of the two houses in the Khidair area are an indication of the dangers that face many of the Old City’s houses.
He insisted that the government and the relevant bodies take quick measures to protect the Old City, by undertaking the restoration and rehabilitation of the houses in the Old City. He also bemoaned the lack of equipment required to do the necessary work to preserve the Old City.
