Heavy rains damage houses in Hadramout [Archives:2006/943/Local News]

By: Saleh Al-Batati
Mukalla
Heavy rainfalls hit on Friday 28 April districts of Qatan, Shebam and Seyoun in the valley of Hadramout governorate. The heavy rainfalls caused the collapse of many houses in areas of Hafl, Khamour, Shebam and Huwat.

The damage included the fall of three buildings and collapse of a number of flats as well as the sweeping of some agricultural land soils. No casualties have been reported among the residents of those areas.

Those rains have posed great danger to historical houses and buildings in Shebam. They are usually built of mud that would not resist heavy rains for a long time and consequently cause demolition or large cracks in them that may lead to their fall.

A citizen said he saw the fall of a ceiling of one of those historical houses as a result of water gathering on the roof. The residents have many times appealed to the government to renovate those houses that are considered one of the sites attracting tourists from various parts of the world. They asked the government to cover the buildings with alabaster, which is a material resistant to rain.

The Germans are presently carrying out repair works to some historical houses that are exposed to falling.

The assistant deputy of the Wadi districts and desert had visited ad inspected the damaged areas and gave his orders for offering help to the affected people there.
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