Khair and other districts of Jeddah affected by the heavy rains and floods have documented the horrific scenes with their mobile telephones. They recorded the start of the floods that smashed the walls of their homes and swept away their cars right before their eyes. The residents of Umm Al-Khair planned district, adjacent to the burst Umm Al-Khair Dam, recorded the volume of the destruction and the force of the water. Nasser Al-Ghamdi, a resident of Umm Al-Khair District whose home is close to the big dam, said he was looking at the dark sky and taking pictures of the showers, when the floodwaters destroyed part of the dam. He quickly filmed the whole scene and followed the fast-moving flood water as it swept into homes and carried away vehicles and structures. Hamid Al-Thumali, a resident close to the dam, said mobile telephones have created a huge change in how events are documented. “I was cruising in my car near the eastern districts, so I used my mobile to document the most violent scenes and greatest destruction.” He said he might one day have to show future generations how “death knocked at the door” because of the floods. Muhsin Al-Owfi said the impact of the incident has resulted in many people keeping their phones ready to report on events. He said modern mobile telephones have contributed to documenting events “in a good way”. He said many still have recordings of what happened in the first Jeddah disaster. “They have become eyewitnesses for Jeddah residents' suffering.” Sami Al-Ansari said that many residents have been able to record what happened in their districts. It appears that reporting on these events has become part of life for residents of the Bride of the Red Sea, he said. Dr. Muhammad Shawoosh, a consultant psychiatrist, said documenting disasters has both short and long-term psychological effects. The short-term effect is in the form of what is known as “acute sorrow and anxiety” with symptoms including fear, severe anxiety and tension, depression, inability to sleep, and flashbacks to the horrific scenes.
