Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH —An Ethiopian resident was electrocuted in Jeddah's Al-Jami'ah neighborhood after he touched an electrical pole that had been standing partly submerged in a flooded street, Al-Madinah newspaper reported Tuesday. On his way to work, he crossed the street and touched the pole, which electrocuted him. He was able to call for help, but he died soon after. Local residents said that this was the second time this had happened to a resident in the neighborhood. The same pole had also electrocuted others but they survived, they added. After the latest victim died residents called police, the Red Crescent and the electric company. A forensics team examined the body and it was transferred to the mortuary. However, residents said calls to the municipality went unanswered. The electric company disconnected power from the pole but later reconnected it. Previously, the company had painted the pole to isolate it. However, residents said this solution was useless because when it rains the pole's base becomes submerged and dangerous. Abdul Mueen Al-Shaikh, president of the Saudi Electricity Company's western sector, said electricity poles and their maintenance are the responsibility of the municipality. He said the Civil Defense should have investigated the matter with the electric company and the municipality, and the problem identified and solved. “But this has not happened yet,” he said.
