Saudi Gazette report ABQAIQ — More than 100 children who lost relatives during a fatal fire at a wedding in Abqaiq earlier this month are receiving psychological help from the Education Bureau to recover from the trauma. The tragedy on Nov. 2, which saw 26 people electrocuted, happened after a snapped high-tension power cable fell over the metal door of the wedding hall. Eyewitnesses said celebratory gunfire brought down the power line. Madh Al-Jafari, Director of the Education Bureau in Abqaiq, said all students who lost relatives were asked to gather in a class where they were given an education program that will help them cope with the tragedy. “Immediately after the students returned to school after the Eid Al-Adha holidays, a team of social workers was tasked with formulating an integrated psychological rehabilitative program aimed at helping these students get over the trauma they suffered,” Al-Jafari said. “We are doing our best to help traumatized children continue with their lives,” he added. The team came up with a number of recommendations and suggestions and even sent a suggestion to the governor of Abqaiq to get rid of all signs of the incident. “The programs the team came up with aim to help the students adjust to their surrounding environment. Next, they will move to a new stage in the rehabilitative program which is mainly dedicated to remolding their thinking to erase painful memories from their minds.” Al-Jafari said the team will also interview the students individually and make recommendations accordingly.
